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
    2016-04-15T16:12:18+00:00

    There is not OEM office versions available anymore, we initial found this out when Dell and Toshiba first hand. We talked with both companies at length and this came directly from Microsoft.

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  2. Anonymous
    2016-04-15T16:15:14+00:00

    Be warned, you may get by with 19 to 20 licences per MS account now, but don't be surprised if that number dwindles down to 2 to 5 licenses. We use to get about 50 licences per account and it has dwindled down over the last 18 months.

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  3. Anonymous
    2016-04-15T16:25:00+00:00

    Good plan Chris.Jones_NZ, we do that when possible in our case. Also note at times we've had Office license become inactive and require a call-through to reactivate. We suspect it has something to do with Microsoft detecting where you actually activated it and invalidating the licence if too many other licenses have been activate through that specific path (e.g. your network IP addresses, router/switch MAC address, etc).

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  4. Anonymous
    2016-04-15T17:18:30+00:00

    There is not OEM office versions available anymore, we initial found this out when Dell and Toshiba first hand. We talked with both companies at length and this came directly from Microsoft.

    Thanks for the confirmation. 

    I don't see much call for such a tracking system because it requires too much manual effort. And frankly, the requirements are so simple that anyone can create a spreadsheet that will fill the need just fine.

    Yes, I agree with your speculation that soon, maybe the next major release or the one after, will do away with 1-time payment licenses.  It is unfortunate.

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  5. Anonymous
    2016-04-19T18:33:31+00:00

    This is a TERRIBLE business strategy for Microsoft.

    Forcing people into a specific line will completely backfire, just like it did with their XBOX.

    There does not exist a consumer who will be forced into doing anything (they/we will push back), and they are not learning their lesson even while watching their market share drop.

    I encourage anyone who reads this post to e-mail the board of directors and voice your opinion on this serious misstep, and the impact it will have on Microsoft and our companies.

    More and more of us will find alternatives or completely move away from MS office.

    The MS board of directors can be found here:

    https://news.microsoft.com/microsoft-board-of-directors/#sm.0000yn1wb1alwda2x7r1e7fisd6kc

    Their e-mail addresses are usually firstname.lastname@microsoft.com

    Please do not flame mail or write anything nasty to these people, they have jobs as well.

    Simply express your dissatisfaction and suggest possible resolutions.

    :)

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