Install Office 2016 OEM without Live account

Anonymous
2015-10-07T18:12:57+00:00

I manage IT services for several small businesses and periodically need to purchase new computers with Office. I just purchased a new Dell laptop with the OEM version of Office 2016 Home & Business. It will not let me activate it without adding it to a MS account.

I know this is a perennial question, beginning with Office 2013, that is a major headache for independent technical consultants that support small businesses, as I do. But I have never seen a solid answer as to how to get this installed on the computer without the MS account--just a lot of try this, try that. This is NOT Office 365, just Office H & B 2016!

 I will not:

  • Add it to my MS account, or it will be forever stuck to me--which is inappropriate, since I will not own the computer or software once I am paid for the system by my client.
  • Make my client set up a MS account just for this.
  • Pry into my client's information to get his MS account information (if he even has one).

But I must have Office installed, activated, and updated before I give the system to my client. The activation dialog, in fact, gives me the option of using a product key instead of a login, but then proceeds to "Redeem Online"--which I believe will end up with the same result that requires a MS account.

At this point, I now have a bigger issue. I backed up the Program Data folder that contains the cached Office installation files, then uninstalled MS Office, hoping that a reinstall would give me some option to truly install without being forced to figure out a MS account for my client. The uninstallation removed the original setup folders. Good thing I backed it up, but then when I reinstall from any of those, it installs Office 2013, not Office 2016. And while it still validates the key when I click the option to use a key instead of a logon, it (as before) takes me to "Redeem Online".

Hello, Microsoft: this issue alone has just eliminated my entire profit from this project, given the time I have already spent trying to get this done, then uninstalling and attempting to reinstall.

I know there are versions that can be activated without a MS account, but I do not buy in bulk and can never seem to figure out which is which.

How do I get this installed for my client without being required to use a MS account?

Microsoft 365 and Office | Install, redeem, activate | For home | Windows

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  1. Anonymous
    2016-02-26T03:16:12+00:00

    The scripted changed for Office 2013 and 2016. Now only the last 5 characters are displayed using the OSPP.VBS command.

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  2. Anonymous
    2016-02-26T03:18:07+00:00

    Be warned if you activate too many office licenses on the same Microsoft account, that microsoft account will eventually be disabled.

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  3. Anonymous
    2016-02-26T03:31:46+00:00

    What we are doing as an IT support company to small businesses is to set up an account in the format computername@outlook.com at least this way it means if that PC needs to be reinstalled we have a company-wide standard to retrieve the installation rather than relying on customers to remember where they kept their activation key. It's still a pain in the **** to have to do this for every new instance we sell though and adds time onto the customer preparation

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  4. Anonymous
    2016-02-26T04:03:02+00:00

    You idea makes some sense but fails when I take all your "computer-name1 - computer-name99" email names.  Also computer names can change.

    I might take a modified approach and use:  ******@outlook.com (or service tag - whatever)... that way the machine owns the account and it will be unique across the company and other companies...

    Thanks for the work around

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  5. Anonymous
    2016-02-26T14:53:41+00:00

    After a Man day and talking to support this is what you need to do.

    1, Buy the licence

    2, If it's an online download/supply you'll be given a Product key (not to be confused with a product activation key). The "product key" is used by https://stores.office.com/myaccount/home.aspx to then allow you to get a download installer to make an offline installer.

    3, On https://stores.office.com/myaccount/home.aspx YOU NEED TO CLICK ON "Install from a disc"option, then on the next page click on "I want to burn a disc" option

    4, You can then see a "View Your Product Key" link, click that to get your SOFTWARE ACTIVATION KEY

    5, On the target computer, open Word, Click "File Menu", "Account", then "Activate Product", then put your SOFTWARE ACTIVATION KEY into the boxes.

    The software will be activated without needed to go back to an online activation process

    I guess the only problem is that everyone still needs the live account to get to the https://stores.office.com/ web site to get the software activation key!!!!

    Has anyone used a retail box product key or does Microsoft not supply a DVD with a software activation key anymore?

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