Trying to get my head around Office Licencing
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- Lounger
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Re: Trying to get my head around Office Licencing
I'm posting back because I'm genuinely not understanding how this is all supposed to work. I'm also hoping the process might help some other lost soul down the track.
I've signed in on the web, and clicked the Install Office button. It's downloaded (without any options available), some sort of office.exe file. I've run that, and it's installed office with, again, no options whatsoever, not even any "are you sure" type questions. I now have about 500 office apps in my start menu.
I've opened the Word one (I know it's the new one because it says "New"), and it wants me to sign in to activate it. So I put in my email and password and then the authenticator code...
This screen then shows up:
From this I'm assuming there are actually two different things it wants to know. I don't want my organisation managing ANYTHING on my own personal device, so I untick the box (as seen in the screenshot). The other thing is whether I want to sign in only to this app or to all microsoft apps. I only want to use word, excel, powerpoint and outlook on my home pc, so I'll click All apps and assume I can just delete or remove or disable the ones I don't want later...
I click this and it tells me it's registering my device
Then when that's done I see this
Now I have to post this post and start another one because I can't attach more than 3 attachments (???!)
I've signed in on the web, and clicked the Install Office button. It's downloaded (without any options available), some sort of office.exe file. I've run that, and it's installed office with, again, no options whatsoever, not even any "are you sure" type questions. I now have about 500 office apps in my start menu.
I've opened the Word one (I know it's the new one because it says "New"), and it wants me to sign in to activate it. So I put in my email and password and then the authenticator code...
This screen then shows up:
From this I'm assuming there are actually two different things it wants to know. I don't want my organisation managing ANYTHING on my own personal device, so I untick the box (as seen in the screenshot). The other thing is whether I want to sign in only to this app or to all microsoft apps. I only want to use word, excel, powerpoint and outlook on my home pc, so I'll click All apps and assume I can just delete or remove or disable the ones I don't want later...
I click this and it tells me it's registering my device
Then when that's done I see this
Now I have to post this post and start another one because I can't attach more than 3 attachments (???!)
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- Lounger
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Re: Trying to get my head around Office Licencing
Next it tells me I need to restart Office to apply my privacy settings. OK.
Then I have to accept the licence agreement.
Finally, it seems to be saying everything is ok.
I can type on a blank word doc and save it on my PC. However, when I click to Save, the default location is OneDrive. Remember that so far, I have been given no options whatsoever about what I want or don’t want…Stuart’s previous advice (You need to be careful when you log in to specify that the Microsoft account is to be used for Microsoft Apps only. The process does try to get you to allow that account to be used for other things and you may need to clear check-boxes on some forms before you click OK. Read every form carefully before you click any buttons.) is sound, but I don’t know when this stuff is supposed to appear.
As should be obvious, this is close to the least intuitive thing I’ve ever encountered. Next post…
Then I have to accept the licence agreement.
Finally, it seems to be saying everything is ok.
I can type on a blank word doc and save it on my PC. However, when I click to Save, the default location is OneDrive. Remember that so far, I have been given no options whatsoever about what I want or don’t want…Stuart’s previous advice (You need to be careful when you log in to specify that the Microsoft account is to be used for Microsoft Apps only. The process does try to get you to allow that account to be used for other things and you may need to clear check-boxes on some forms before you click OK. Read every form carefully before you click any buttons.) is sound, but I don’t know when this stuff is supposed to appear.
As should be obvious, this is close to the least intuitive thing I’ve ever encountered. Next post…
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- Lounger
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Re: Trying to get my head around Office Licencing
I’ve gone to the Save options in Word and clicked things as follows:
Now, to get rid of OneDrive, I went to the start menu, right clicked on its Icon and Uninstall. It took me to the standard Programs page, where I uninstalled it, I think, successfully. I think this is all good, because now, when I click Save, I see this
So, after all this, here are my questions, and apologies in advance, because to some of you these things will be beyond obvious, but to me, they are the opposite.
1) Do I seem to have done things correctly, so that things are only saved on my local computer?
2) How can I be sure that OneDrive doesn’t exist on this PC?
3) Do I have to repeat what I’ve done for Excel, Powerpoint and Outlook?
4) How do I remove all other unwanted apps?
5) Where do I find this: “You need to be careful when you log in to specify that the Microsoft account is to be used for Microsoft Apps only. The process does try to get you to allow that acccount to be used for other things and you may need to clear check-boxes on some forms before you click OK. Read every form carefully before you click any buttons.”
6) Do I have to remain “signed in” while using this? Or can I somehow use and save things only on my local computer, without being signed in to Microsoft? I can't stand seeing my ugly mug (that's "face" for anyone not familiar...) and email address at the top right of the screen all the time.
I swear, the more technology advances, the more utopia recedes into the distance...
Now, to get rid of OneDrive, I went to the start menu, right clicked on its Icon and Uninstall. It took me to the standard Programs page, where I uninstalled it, I think, successfully. I think this is all good, because now, when I click Save, I see this
So, after all this, here are my questions, and apologies in advance, because to some of you these things will be beyond obvious, but to me, they are the opposite.
1) Do I seem to have done things correctly, so that things are only saved on my local computer?
2) How can I be sure that OneDrive doesn’t exist on this PC?
3) Do I have to repeat what I’ve done for Excel, Powerpoint and Outlook?
4) How do I remove all other unwanted apps?
5) Where do I find this: “You need to be careful when you log in to specify that the Microsoft account is to be used for Microsoft Apps only. The process does try to get you to allow that acccount to be used for other things and you may need to clear check-boxes on some forms before you click OK. Read every form carefully before you click any buttons.”
6) Do I have to remain “signed in” while using this? Or can I somehow use and save things only on my local computer, without being signed in to Microsoft? I can't stand seeing my ugly mug (that's "face" for anyone not familiar...) and email address at the top right of the screen all the time.
I swear, the more technology advances, the more utopia recedes into the distance...
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- Lounger
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Re: Trying to get my head around Office Licencing
And just to be super clear (again, I'd do all this in one post instead of 4 if there wasn't the attachment limit), this is what I don't want to when I start Word etc:
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- Administrator
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Re: Trying to get my head around Office Licencing
1) Yes.
2) I'd leave OneDrive and either not use it at all, or simply use it to make files available via Internet if you ever need to.
3) Yes.
4) You cannot choose which Microsoft 365 apps to install. I don't know why you have "500 office apps in my start menu".
5) Stuart?
6) Yes, you have to remained signed in. Since Microsoft 365 is a subscription service, it only works when you are signed in to your account. Once you are signed in. you shouldn't have to do that each time you start an Office application.
2) I'd leave OneDrive and either not use it at all, or simply use it to make files available via Internet if you ever need to.
3) Yes.
4) You cannot choose which Microsoft 365 apps to install. I don't know why you have "500 office apps in my start menu".
5) Stuart?
6) Yes, you have to remained signed in. Since Microsoft 365 is a subscription service, it only works when you are signed in to your account. Once you are signed in. you shouldn't have to do that each time you start an Office application.
Best wishes,
Hans
Hans
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Re: Trying to get my head around Office Licencing
5) Always choose "Sign in to this app only"
StuartR
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Re: Trying to get my head around Office Licencing
Thankyou both for your continued help for me.
I think I don't have any other option actually. I got into work today and nothing worked. Apparently uninstalling onedrive from my local home PC uninstalls it from everywhere.
Apologies. That was my (bad?) humour. 500 was an exaggeration.
Hmmm. So, since I've accidentally clicked "All Apps and websites", how do I now change things so that I am only ever signed in to Word, Excel, Outlook, PPT?
If I'm understanding correctly, you're saying that as long as I sign in only to each individual app I want, it's not an issue being "signed in" all the time. I'm only "signed in" as far as using those apps goes? Again, sorry if this seems obvious.
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Re: Trying to get my head around Office Licencing
You should be able to sign out of your Microsoft account from the "Office Account" menu in any office app and then sign back in again.OneSecondStreet wrote: ↑13 Jun 2024, 06:56Hmmm. So, since I've accidentally clicked "All Apps and websites", how do I now change things so that I am only ever signed in to Word, Excel, Outlook, PPT?
StuartR
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Re: Trying to get my head around Office Licencing
Thanks Stuart. But this doesn't work. I've done it twice now. I've signed out of everhthing, Word on my local PC (from the office account menu) and microsoft on the web. I open Word, it tells me to sign in. I give it my email (to "Activate Office"), then my password, then the authenticator code... Once it's signed in it tells me to restart office to apply changes to my privacy settings (I don't understand this).I click OK and can start using it. At no time is there anything which allows me to only be signed in to Word,Excel, PPT or outlook.StuartR wrote: ↑13 Jun 2024, 09:17You should be able to sign out of your Microsoft account from the "Office Account" menu in any office app and then sign back in again.OneSecondStreet wrote: ↑13 Jun 2024, 06:56Hmmm. So, since I've accidentally clicked "All Apps and websites", how do I now change things so that I am only ever signed in to Word, Excel, Outlook, PPT?
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Re: Trying to get my head around Office Licencing
But you should only be signed in to Office not to windows
StuartR
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Re: Trying to get my head around Office Licencing
I'm not signed in to Windows. Or at least I don't know how I would be if I was...
Perhaps could or explain, or show, exactly where I'm supposed to go in order to sign out of windows but sign in to office. I think that's what you're saying.
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Re: Trying to get my head around Office Licencing
When you log in to Windows do you use an email address or just a name?
StuartR
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Re: Trying to get my head around Office Licencing
Until now, I don't log in to Windows, or... I only do so on my work computer. I'm logged into there pretty much all the time. On my home PC, never. When I've been faced with sign-in boxes through this process, I've used my (work) email address.
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- PlutoniumLounger
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Re: Trying to get my head around Office Licencing
Hans, if I have understood these points correctly, Office 2021 and Office 2024 are the closest we are going to get to The Good Old Days when I bought a CD with "Office 97" or "Office 20903" and because it was a physical CD, it stayed as-is, providing a stable platform for a program developer.
That is, distribution of Office 2021/2024 is the same as always, it's just that MSoft is now out of the business of supplying cartons of CDs to chains of stores around the world?
I ask because (a) the prospect of converting tens of thousands of lines of VBA to LibreOffice Basic is daunting and (b) I am ready, almost, to throw in the towel with Office 2003.
An upgrade to 2024 seems to be the least painful method for me.
I understand that it will register on only one of my laptops, so I should choose that laptop carefully.
Thanks, Chris
Fill your face with laughter, then there will be no room for tears.
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Re: Trying to get my head around Office Licencing
Yep - it's the same concept, only now you download the software instead of installing it from a CD or DVD.
Best wishes,
Hans
Hans
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- PlutoniumLounger
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Re: Trying to get my head around Office Licencing
Thanks Hans
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- UraniumLounger
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Re: Trying to get my head around Office Licencing
Why does MS make the whole process so damnably difficult? Yes, I realize that the apps are complex. I use to create spreadsheets with pencil and paper and adding columns and rows. But I was also an application developer and software manager who learned to use the KISS method whenever and wherever possible.
As I've come to this party very late, I will offer an alternative to subscribing to Office 365 or to purchasing Office 2021. I shopped eBay and found a NOS version of Office for less than $50US. It installs and runs everything I need - and a lot I don't run or need. Obviously this isn't an option for everyone, but the apps have been robust for decades now with updates being little more than tweaks. YMMV
As I've come to this party very late, I will offer an alternative to subscribing to Office 365 or to purchasing Office 2021. I shopped eBay and found a NOS version of Office for less than $50US. It installs and runs everything I need - and a lot I don't run or need. Obviously this isn't an option for everyone, but the apps have been robust for decades now with updates being little more than tweaks. YMMV
Bob's yer Uncle
Dell Intel Core i5 Laptop, 3570K,1.60 GHz, 8 GB RAM, Windows 11 64-bit, LibreOffice,and other bits and bobs
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- PlutoniumLounger
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Re: Trying to get my head around Office Licencing

Because Microsoft has never been a software house; it has always been a Marketing and Sales business.
Yesterday I considered buying an Office 2021 for right now, and then later this year, and Office 2024 so that I would be up-to-date. Offices 2024 should last me until the year before my 100th birthday.
I had to navigate a veritable minefield of "Microsoft 365" and gave up, locating Home & Student 2021 for a mere $cad 165
I could live with that. Although I note with interest that this downloadable material is "Available online only".
I bookmarked a Microsoft page https://www.microsoft.com/en-US/microso ... verviewtab which now refuses to acknowledge my choice (which is an unsolicited offer) to head for the Canadian (English) site.
Here I can get "Office Professional 2021" for only $US440 but at least this includes MSAccess.
Needless to say I have postponed my decision to upgrade until the grass clippings season ends. I can only get so much done.
I am complaining again, I know, but Lordy Lord! It's just a CD, right? A CD on steroids, but a CD. If you are going to offer something for sale, then make it easy to sell; if you don't want to sell it, then don't advertise it? Right now I can't work out whether, as a Marketing and Sales concern, MSoft is a failure or a success.
I am now questioning my need for an upgraded MSAccess. I no longer need my all-singing all-dancing GUI form that did everything but make coffee while I tracked the status of 500 clients/prospects. I could Use Excel. Or Lotus. Or PCCalc which, back in 1989, was already a relational db. I developed a scheduling system for Cottrell Transport in PCCalc in 1990 ...
... which is why I will now ask about "NOS", please and thank you.... found a NOS version of Office for less than $50US. It installs and runs everything I need ...

Cheers, Chris
Fill your face with laughter, then there will be no room for tears.
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- UraniumLounger
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Re: Trying to get my head around Office Licencing
NOS - Internet speak for new old stock.
Bob's yer Uncle
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- PlutoniumLounger
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Re: Trying to get my head around Office Licencing
Thanks Bob; this is the equivalent of "Clearance sale" then?
Cheers, Chris
Fill your face with laughter, then there will be no room for tears.