Unexpected Limitation of Microsoft Office 2007

  • Thread starter Thread starter Robert Robinson
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Robert Robinson

This is off subject, but may be of interest.
We had reason to test terminal services on a Microsoft Windows 2003
Server. To my surprise, a previously installed Microsoft Office 2007
Word now aborts with the message that the program cannot be used if
terminal services is enabled.
This is an interesting limitation that did not occur with the 2003
version of Word. I don't know if it also applies to Longhorn (Vista Server).
We will probably have to remove Microsoft Office and use Open Office as
an alternative.
 
Robert Robinson said:
This is off subject, but may be of interest.
We had reason to test terminal services on a Microsoft Windows 2003
Server. To my surprise, a previously installed Microsoft Office 2007
Word now aborts with the message that the program cannot be used if
terminal services is enabled.
This is an interesting limitation that did not occur with the 2003
version of Word. I don't know if it also applies to Longhorn (Vista
Server).
We will probably have to remove Microsoft Office and use Open Office
as an alternative.
Click to expand...

There is no problem or bug here - this is by design.
Only Office 2007 Enterprise Edition is available for use under
Terminal Services
see
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/311241
Note In addition to the requirements that are listed in the Summary
section, 2007 Office suites also require an Enterprise Product Key to
be used when you install the product. If a Retail Product Key has been
used, an alert that is similar to the one listed below will be
displayed.
This copy of Microsoft Office <whatever> cannot be used on Terminal
Server. Please contact your local authorized Microsoft retailer for
more information
 
See also http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx/kb/924622

When you try to start a Microsoft 2007 Office program within a
Terminal Server client session, you may receive the following error
message:
This copy of Microsoft Office Program cannot be used on Terminal
Server. Please contact your local authorized Microsoft retailer for
more information.
Additionally, the 2007 Office program closes unexpectedly.
CAUSE

This issue occurs when a retail edition, a trial edition, or an OEM
edition of a 2007 Office program or suite is installed on a Terminal
Server computer. Terminal Server does not support the installation of
these editions of 2007 Office programs or suites.
RESOLUTION

To resolve this issue, remove these editions of the 2007 Office suite
or program from the Terminal Server computer. Then, install an edition
that uses a Volume License Key with the 2007 Office suite or a program
that does not require License Activation

<== an Enterprise Edition.
 
Hi Mike,

Thank you very much for the reply.
The Microsoft Office limitation doesn't occur with Office 2003, only
with Office 2007.
The Office 2007 version we installed does have a volume license key and
it was installed before TS was enabled. The "client" was the console
rather than a TS connection.
It looks like another way that Microsoft is initiating extra consumer
charges. The best alternative for us to to stop using Microsoft Office -
which we like - and to change to Open Office which doesn't have this
consumer unfriendly "feature".
 
Robert Robinson said:
Hi Mike,

Thank you very much for the reply.
The Microsoft Office limitation doesn't occur with Office 2003, only
with Office 2007.
Click to expand...

Correct the use of Enterprise only on TS platforms is a new
introduction for Office 2007.
The Office 2007 version we installed does have a volume license key
and it was installed before TS was enabled. The "client" was the
console rather than a TS connection.
Click to expand...

Hmm? not sure about this - my understanding was that only Enterprise
correctly installed after you go to Application Mode on the TS is
supported.
It looks like another way that Microsoft is initiating extra
consumer charges. The best alternative for us to to stop using
Microsoft Office - which we like - and to change to Open Office
which doesn't have this consumer unfriendly "feature".
Click to expand...

Can't really comment on this - it just looks like a licensing change
for Office 2007 under TS.
 
Forget to also say that given the licensing of Office under a TS you
might as well buy Enterprise under a volume licensing agreement - any
other way is just too expensive.
 
Robert said:
Hi Mike,

Thank you very much for the reply.
The Microsoft Office limitation doesn't occur with Office 2003, only
with Office 2007.
The Office 2007 version we installed does have a volume license key and
it was installed before TS was enabled. The "client" was the console
rather than a TS connection.
It looks like another way that Microsoft is initiating extra consumer
charges. The best alternative for us to to stop using Microsoft Office -
which we like - and to change to Open Office which doesn't have this
consumer unfriendly "feature".
Click to expand...

Hah...I'm betting they do this to the login screen in the next release...

"We're sorry - but you are unable to login because this program is not
licensed for Terminal Services - please consider purchasing the
Enterprise Version of Login."
 
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