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
    2017-03-02T04:48:00+00:00

    For office 2010 and 2007 (I don’t know about 2003 or earlier office), When you install either using a disc or a downloaded installer, after you run the office set up it would ask/prompt for the activation/product/license key (whatever you prefer to call it) before it goes to the next step of installation (customize installation, accepting terms and agreement…...) After installing, first time you open any of the office apps that came with your Office Suite (Home and student, Professional), you get a prompt to activate office either online or use Phone system activation and you can use your office… THUS, HAVING A PRODUCT KEY AND DISC INSTALLER MAKES MANAGING THE PURCHASED MULTIPLE LICENSES EASY TO MANAGE. (what happens when you misplace the disc and the key and you have to reinstall office suite?)

    Then comes the  new office 2013/2016. Here is what happened. A desktop PC running windows 10, which doesn’t have a network connection and of course I cannot install office 2016 directly from online.

    Hope this will give a bit of help to those who doesn’t want to use Microsoft Account and prefer to use an Activation Code/Product key instead to activate office.

    First, I really have to go to office.com/setup, sign in with MSA and redeem Office Key Code which is on the card. (Of course, this is done on a different device connected to the internet)

    On the office.com/myaccount, showing the office 2016 and the INSTALL BUTTON, there’s a link which says install from a disc*>*I WANT TO BURN A DISC > download (which would download the office IMG file..

    Copied Office IMG file on a flash/thumb drive. Back to the desktop, mounted the image file and install office (just like how you install office 2010, however wondered why on the installation process it never asked for a Product Key.

    The first time I launched office excel 2016, it asked me to activate my office with these two options:

    **sign in with Microsoft account (which is really not an option for me, no network)

    **enter Product Key instead

    I tried to enter thePRODUCT KEY which is on the key card and I get the pop-up:

    1. Redeem Online (I mean, Really?! Did I forget to mention that the computer is not connected to internet?)

    2. Sign in with Microsoft Account

    3. Finish Activation

    Here’s the Good News though, I noticed that whenI VIEWED MY PRODUCT KEY from my account, it gave me 25 set of characters which is different with the one I have on the card… Tried using that and guess what, it says INSTALL then gave me option to activate office online or activate using Phone System….

    OH HEY!!! I INSTALLED office 2016 using Disc - in this case Virtual Disc and ACTIVATED it using a product key without needing to sign in or connect the installed office apps to Microsoft Account…  I need not go back to signing in with Microsoft Account to reinstall or activate the office. I have the office image and has printed the Activation Key……

    Just sayin.

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  2. Anonymous
    2017-03-02T07:37:27+00:00

    Rohn

    I thought this thread was about OEM software. OEM software is the responsibility of the vendor.  If we are talking about retail one time purchase of Home and Business then they are provided with an url to: 

    http://www.office.com/setup  All the user does is follow the instructions.  I have not notice any complaint on this thread re normal setup of Office one time purchase setup on this thread.

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  3. Anonymous
    2017-03-02T08:18:06+00:00

    RonBarker,

    Obviously you didn't read thru or experience the frustration yourself. I have 20 packs of retail office and I face the same problem with the rest. There is no issue with 1 copy. The problem start when you have more than one.

    What's the logic to attach a per-device license to a per-user email account anyway?

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  4. Anonymous
    2017-03-02T08:39:02+00:00

    You still need to create a separate Microshaft account for each 'redemption' key to generate a new Office product key

    Wait until your IP gets blacklisted for too many activations - 2 hours of not enjoyable time to not get done

    Just sayin'

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  5. Anonymous
    2017-03-02T08:52:35+00:00

    As far as I am aware all the posts on this thread are from technicians having problems with office software not with end users.  If you have 20 retail packs then I suggest that you involve the end user.

    Let us say that you have a small business who has 20 computers on site.  You can arrange to visit the site with your 20 retail office packs

    The small business owner can create his/her own “company” Microsoft Account to use and activate the Office 2013 perpetual licenses. The employee will still be able to sign in with their own Microsoft Account and use the product but the license will appear under the “company” Microsoft Account. http://www.office.com/setup

    You then setup Office on the first computer using the company email address and password.  This creates an Office Account which can be accessed at: https://www.office.com/Myaccount 

    Go to the Office Account click on 'Install from disc' then on 'I have a disc' (Or one of the other options).  Then click on 'View your product key'.  Make a note of the product key and note that it belongs to Computer 1. Just repeat this process for the 20 computers. The Office Account belonging to the company will have 20 Offices installed. As these are Retail version of Office the company is entitled to assistance from Microsoft. You can bill the company for the installation.

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