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
    2016-04-15T10:45:21+00:00

    Hey Robb:

    If you have talked to someone with "real world" experience saying 19-20 licenses per ID, I cannot argue with that.

    I have not yet seen details of MS license offerings for 2016 1-time payment licenses.  I don't know if there is still a formal 'OEM" type license for 2016.  Given that the retail 2016 installation requires the email account at the start of the process, without the "trick" install I described, I could see that 2016 1-time payment OEM licenses have gone the way of the dodo.  All of the new OEM installations of Office I have heard about have been for 365. So, unless someone has direct experience with purchasing an OEM 1-time payment license, I am guessing that the OEMs are now simply bundling a retail 2016 product key with their computers, letting the buyer do the whole install.  This seems to be what people have been complaining about.  So if people are getting a retail license as part of their OEM purchase, then they would have the right to transfer the installation.  I can't see people paying for a 1-time OEM license if the OEM is not going to bother installing it for them ...

    I look forward to hearing from anyone with real world experience buying "OEM" Office 2016 1-time payment licenses.

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  2. Anonymous
    2016-04-15T11:05:19+00:00

    This is also how I do this. I have an internal database that has the email address and the Product key that came with the machine. I then go to the "Burn to disk" option and get the activation key from there. I keep a list with all of that info along with the serial # and internal tag number of the computer. MS definitely didn't make things easy for our midsized company.

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  3. Anonymous
    2016-04-15T12:00:55+00:00

    MS definitely didn't make things easy for our midsized company.

    Yes, and that was intentional, to "encourage" you to switch to 365 ... ![](https://learn-attachment.microsoft.com/api/attachments/5bb9f7ef-24d4-4d47-b795-1ab09a1fc8a8?platform=QnA)

    Sounds like you have a pretty good, manual system to work around the limitations MS has imposed.

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  4. Anonymous
    2016-04-15T14:54:26+00:00

    The thing is that there's always a system that can be designed to work around the obstacles that MS present but the sad fact is that we have to create these systems to overcome them, something which most admins could do without.

    From looking into it further the Office 2016 PKC's do seem to be the retail product and OEM versions appear to be dead now. Thus, as you say, can be transferred to a new PC on death. Based on that, with the current activation model, it seems a necessity to have some form of internal manual system to track what license belongs to what hardware....sounds like as nice business opportunity for someone!! :-D

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  5. Anonymous
    2016-04-15T15:48:52+00:00

    The thing is that there's always a system that can be designed to work around the obstacles that MS present but the sad fact is that we have to create these systems to overcome them, something which most admins could do without.

    From looking into it further the Office 2016 PKC's do seem to be the retail product and OEM versions appear to be dead now. Thus, as you say, can be transferred to a new PC on death. Based on that, with the current activation model, it seems a necessity to have some form of internal manual system to track what license belongs to what hardware....sounds like as nice business opportunity for someone!! :-D

    I agree that a tracking system would be most helpful and a possible business opportunity for someone.  But there are two issues I see.  First, many of us are suspecting that MS will soon do away with retail products and switch completely to Office 365 subscriptions.  That makes sense given the overall MS strategy.  Making a tracking system may instantly prove to be not worth the money it takes to create it, although one might still make 5 or more years profit from it.  Second, you have to find people willing to pay for it.  The entire reason customers are using Office 2016 retail is to save money.  The cost to purchase and track Office 2016 retail with a service would probably be higher than just purchasing it with volume licensing (or going with a free Libre Office).

    Given that someone does find a way to profit from this and actually makes it quickly, Office 2007 support is set to expire 10/10/17, when the next group of purchasers will be getting onboard with some new version of Office.

    My general question for everyone is, how much would YOU be willing to pay for a tracking system?

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