Is there any reason to buy full version as opposed to upgrade?

[tom]

Should I buy the full version of Office 2003 or the
upgrade? Please advise your thoughts.

 

[Ken Snell \(MVP\)]

Depends:

If you want to move the Office 2003 to a different PC in the future, the
upgrade will not let you install the software on that other PC unless that
other PC has a qualifying software already. Buy the full version for this
situation.

If you want to use the software and can live with the above "limitation",
upgrade will give you the same features/capabilities as the full version.

 

[tom]

I have Office 97, so I guess I could install that on
any new computer and then upgrade it. But installing
office 97 is no piece of cake having just done it on a new
computer.

If Office 97 is required to be installed, I guess the full
version is a no brainer. If I only need the disk and key,
then maybe I should try to save a few bucks?

 

[Guest]

This is how I do it: You don't have to do the full install of '97. Attempt
to install '03 and you will be prompted to show a path to the qualifying
product. Insert the '97 disc, holding down Shift so that it doesn't
autolaunch. Then point '03 to the drive with the '97 disc. After
qualification, you reinsert the upgrade disc.

There is also a single folder from the '97 disc that you can copy to your PC
that will qualify the upgrade, but I never remember what that is or where it
goes.

 

[Charlie Hoffpauir]

This is how I do it: You don't have to do the full install of '97. Attempt
to install '03 and you will be prompted to show a path to the qualifying
product. Insert the '97 disc, holding down Shift so that it doesn't
autolaunch. Then point '03 to the drive with the '97 disc. After
qualification, you reinsert the upgrade disc.

There is also a single folder from the '97 disc that you can copy to your PC
that will qualify the upgrade, but I never remember what that is or where it
goes.

That's nice to know, as I have Access 2000 (standalone, not a part of
Office) and I was thinking about getting the upgrade, maybe after the
2007 version is released.
Charlie Hoffpauir
http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.com/~charlieh/