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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:
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?
Processes in Microsoft 365 for setting up Office apps, redeeming product keys, and activating licenses.
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Last week, I installed open office for the first time for a client, also spent time with end user to train in new environment. So far no complaints from end user. Just saying.....
I have Open Office in addition to the MS Office 2016 suite. I have a few clients who use Open Office and have ever since the MS switch to the 2007 User Interface. The only thing missing for many of my guys is an Email/contacts/calendar program. Some people don't want to have to rely in their Internet connection for access to old mail, phone numbers, and a calendar. If I could find a decent alternative to Outlook, I know many people who would leave MS Office for good. It's already a no brainer as an alternative to Home & Student edition
OP here.
As far as an e-mail client: Thunderbird. Free. I have not yet tried it with an Exchange account, but have a client that is using it for POP/IMAP, and it does have an Exchange Provider plugin. And I understand that the Lightning calendar plugin can provide a pretty good calendar.
I suspect I may have some of my clients on an OpenOffice/Thunderbird/Lightning combination soon.
Snarli, do you think this is all part of a plan to convince customers to give up on purchase and go to subscription mode?
That is it entirely. Look at all of the 'improvements' they have made to the 1-time payment license since 365 came out:
The last point is the biggest one. Among it's many features, the admin portal allows the administrator to quickly and easily allow and disallow 365 licenses to specific users. You can even make mass assignments via PowerShell. Since 1-time payment licenses now require an email account, there is no reason why they couldn't be managed through the admin portal.
Calling the update for the missing grammar checking features a "new feature" and therefore limiting it to 365 is flat out wrong. (It will be released in an update some time in August.) Those missing features are a BUG, a defect in the original release. The fix for this defect should be made available to all licenses.
From a simple financial point, 365 generates more money and it provides a "better", smoother, cash flow for the business.
think, no
know, absolutely
and given the client is in the middle of nowhere with a whopping 8 Mbps down internet service with 50 devices on it and these laptops will not have internet access, makes the joy of installing Office all the more fun