reformat - office disks

[Lynne Desrochers]

I have to reformat a new windows 7 machine that I purchased from Dell. I did not get a microsoft office disk with the workstation. Do I request the disks from Dell, Microsoft or is this something I can download?
Thank you in advance for any help.

[Bob]

I noticed on my Windows7 machines from Dell when purchasing Office, they store CD image if you will under programs, microsoft office.   Other option is small square M$ piece of paper with instruction where to download file.  Often it requires MS Live account to be used.

I just checked my box and see once I used the image file and installed Office 2010, it removed the image.

Generally speaking those are the two ways they deal with OEM MS Office now from dell.  I don't know if the CD image is standard or not.  I was rather upset once when they made me try and download that I instructed them I never want a PC with out the files on system.  Don't have time to download huge files and go through the hoops of MS Live account.  Ever since that exchange with my rep, I've always found a CD image.

Call Dell give them service tag, tell them problem..    They should point you to image if standard practice or email instruction where to go download again.

[Charlie Charbonneau]

Dell is also now prompting you to create your own system disks when seting up a new box via backup and recovery manager.

undoubtably a "green initiative, that the consumer will ignore untill the computer crashes and they're up the creek..

[Jim Jensen]

Dell is also now prompting you to create your own system disks when seting up a new box via backup and recovery manager.

undoubtably a "green initiative, that the consumer will ignore untill the computer crashes and they're up the creek..

I will agree that it's a 'green' initiative, but probably moreso 'greenbacks' initiative than environmental. they get to trim a cost and the consumer either has to pay it in the form of burning your own backup CD/DVD or getting back into a corner of buying another copy.

[Jeff Zylstra]

I think that you can download a copy of the entire office suite, and then they just give you a license key which activates only the version and features which you've purchased.  I don't know if you will pass the licensing test when you enter the key, or not.  You may have to call to get a new license key.  Not sure how that works exactly, but a guy in our office had to do it a few months ago with his machine.

[Mark]

Another example of why I vote for volume license agreement.  I'm with everyone else who completely hates not getting media with these.

[Hans Manhave]

Would an annual membership of Technet Professional solve these problems also?  Those downloads are for evaluation, but if you already have a valid license key, nothing criminal should be happening.

[Mark]

Would an annual membership of Technet Professional solve these problems also?  Those downloads are for evaluation, but if you already have a valid license key, nothing criminal should be happening.

With previous versions of Office, the key had to match the media.  I'm not 100% sure that this still holds true, however, so you may be right.  By key matching media, I don't mean a 1:1, I just mean category, so volume licensed media would not work with OEM key, etc.

[Lynne Desrochers]

Thanks for all the responses. I'll give it a whirl downloading it this weekend, I got through the initial steps so it seems like it will work.  I'm going to have to look at volume licensing. just add that to the list.  Have a great weekend everyone.

[Jan Regnier]

I loaded Office 2010 recently on 9 stations and the key code did have to match the product.