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
    2017-01-02T13:20:59+00:00

    Yes, you understand correctly when you are talking about an Office 2016 license (not an Office 365 license). Of course you also need the product key.

    But giving someone else, even "tech support", your email account and PASSWORD violates one of the basic rules of personal and corporate security "best practices".  Sure the user should be then required to immediately change their password, but ... you know users ...

    And you also have to keep track of the product key, the email account and the computer ID somewhere for a time when the license has to be re-installed or transferred to a new computer. You CANNOT depend on the user to keep track of that info. And you can no longer use the product key "extraction" tools since MS "improved" that option out of existence.

    Sure it is manageable if you are talking about a single install. But if you are providing support for a large company, installing many new computers or many new Office 2016 licenses it does become complex and time consuming for the computer support staff.  Someone has to "eat the cost" on this extra time required for installing Office.

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  2. Anonymous
    2017-01-02T13:29:18+00:00

    I wish it's that straight forward. But as you said it yourself, the step is not obvious and this hidden step reveal the REAL Product Key, NOT the Redemption Key we have on the license paper. So hiow do you expect end users to tell which product key has been activated for which redemption key?

    Why not show the redemption key on the first page so that users know which one is not used yet? Or at least show which one has been used? Why intentionally make this a nightmare for legal users just to force them to switch to Office365??

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  3. Anonymous
    2017-01-02T13:41:11+00:00

    The idea for one of purchases of Microsoft Office 2013/2016 was to make it simple and secure. Once Office 2013/2016 is installed there should be no need to use the Redemption Key again unless you need to transfer Office to a new computer.  The Redemption Key is proof of purchase so should be kept safe. Once Office is installed a normal user can reinstall Office as many times as they desire from their Office Account.  They never normally need to obtain their Product Key.

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  4. Anonymous
    2017-01-02T13:47:17+00:00

    Not simple at all when you have more than 1 license. You still can't tell which one is activated and which one haven't. Knowing the REAL product key tell you nothing which one belong to the new redemption key that you just purchased. So you have not even answer the question to begin with.

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  5. Anonymous
    2017-01-02T13:49:30+00:00

    Rohn

    I think that I posted earlier the instruction:

    How do I install and activate Office Home & Business 2013 on behalf of the customer?

    Step 1: Download and install Office at Office.com/setup. The customer will need to enter their Microsoft Account information (email address and password).

    Step 2: Activate Office using the same Microsoft account **IMPORTANT:**The Microsoft account must be uniquely owned and accessible by the end customer. It will be the customer’s key to re-install Office in the future and access Office online services. End customers cannot use their Office subscription<br> until they have redeemed Office with a Microsoft account on Office.com/setup, and signed in. It is critical to guide end customers through the process to ensure activation.

    Failure to follow these steps could lead to end customer issues including:

     Corrupted Office installations on the customer’s PC

     Loss of access to online Office services paid for by the customer including, but not limited to: online SkyDrive storage, Skype calling credit, Office personalization settings, Office subscription management/renewal capability, Office re-installation capability and Office licensing for additional PCs/Macs

    Breach of end customer private data and information

    You may be able to say different because I am not sure but why does it not apply to Office 365?

    Sign in to My Office Account to install Office or manage your Office 365 subscription

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