Below are a collection of scenario-based frequently asked questions and their answers about 2007 Microsoft Office system Retail Licensing. These answers are applicable to the specific questions being asked and are not to be interpreted as additional licensing terms. Check back as additional scenarios may be added as they arise.
I am the only user of the Microsoft Office software I licensed and would like to install it on a network or blade server device and use it from a different client device. Is that allowed?
Yes, because you are the only user of the Microsoft Office software, you may access your licensed device from any other device. Please note that only volume licensing versions of Microsoft Office suites and applications may technically be installed within a terminal services environment.
Since I am the primary user of the Microsoft Office software I licensed and can access it remotely, can someone else use the software at the same time I am accessing it remotely?
No, only one person can use the Microsoft Office license at a time. While another person is using the Microsoft Office software on the licensed device, no one, including the primary user of the software, may access the software on the licensed device without a separate license.
I would like to install my Microsoft Office software on a server device and allow multiple devices or users to access it. Is that allowed?
No, retail licenses are not intended to be used for network or server-based scenarios, as all devices accessing software installed on a server need to be licensed separately. Microsoft does not offer a way in the retail channel to license devices without the software installed on such devices. If you wish to run a server-based deployment of Microsoft Office, you should license the software through the Volume Licensing channel.
I would like to install Microsoft Office software on a USB flash drive and take the flash drive with me so that I can plug it into whatever computer I am using at the time. Is that allowed?
No, once you plug a flash drive or any other portable drive with Microsoft Office into a computer or other hardware system, that hardware system becomes the licensed device. Any removal of the portable drive after that would be subject to the terms of reassignment to another device, which is only allowed once every 90 days with retail licenses of Microsoft Office.
I would like to install my copy of Microsoft Office on two desktop computers. Can I use my portable installation right for the second install?
No, the portable installation right is for use of the primary user of the first installed copy only and must be on a portable device. A desktop computer is not a portable device.
Can I install my copy of Microsoft Office on two laptops?
Yes, the licensed device may be a portable device. The secondary portable installation right is for use of the primary user of the first installed copy only and must be on a portable device. If you are the primary user of the licensed device, you may install a second copy on another laptop, but the copy of Microsoft Office on that laptop may only be used by you.
I purchased a license for Microsoft Office Professional Edition and would like to install Office Word on one desktop that I use and the other Microsoft Office applications on a second desktop that I use. Can I do that?
No, you may not separate the components of Microsoft Office and install them on separate devices.
I have partitioned my hard drive and I would like to install my copy of Microsoft Office on each partition on the same device. Can I do that?
No, each partition, as combined with the rest of the machine, counts as a separate device. If you are installing on a laptop, you could install your copy of Microsoft Office on up to two partitions, but the second partition could only be used by the primary user of the first partition. The first partition would be your licensed device, while the second would be under your portable installation right.
I purchased a license for the Microsoft Office Home and Student Edition. The license terms say I may install the software on three devices in my household for use by people who reside there. My step-children live half their time at my house and half their time at another house. May I install one of those copies on a computer at the other house for use by my children?
No, the installations must all be in the same household. If your step-children reside in your household and you install the software on up to three portable devices within your household, the children can take the portable devices with them when they move between your household and the other household.
I purchased a license for the Microsoft Office Home and Student Edition. The license terms say I may install the software on three devices in my household for use by people who reside there. I have a vacation home that is solely for my family’s use (other than occasional guests). Can I install one of my three copies on a computer at our vacation home?
Yes, a vacation home that is solely used (other than occasional guests) by those that reside in the primary household will be considered an extension of the primary household.
I purchased an upgrade version of Microsoft Office PowerPoint 2007 because I had a 2003 version of Microsoft Office that qualified for the upgrade version. The license terms for PowerPoint 2007 say "after you upgrade …, you may no longer use the earlier version of the software you upgraded … from." Does this mean that I can no longer use my 2003 version of Microsoft Office when all I upgraded was the PowerPoint application?
No, the clause is not meant to restrict usage of applications of the Microsoft Office version that formed the basis for the upgrade, only their use apart from the new installation. To be a valid upgrade, the new software must be installed on the same device as the software that formed the basis for the upgrade. You may still use the old software and its applications, but they will count as one application for licensing purposes so that no more than one person can be using them simultaneously. If you had a Microsoft Office suite and purchased a version upgrade license for only PowerPoint, you can use the new version of Power Point, as well as the old version of PowerPoint and the other Microsoft Office applications on the same device. However, no one else could use the old PowerPoint or old Microsoft Office applications while you were using the newly installed version upgrade.
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