Wiping computer and reinstalling Microsoft Office Suite

[Guest]

I purchased the Microsoft Office Suite several years ago, and I still have
the installation discs {somewhere}. My problem is that my Sony VAIO computer
has developed a problem that cannot be solved by Sony. They have recommended
that I use their recovery disc to reinstall everything that originally came
with my computer. The Microsoft Office Suite did NOT come with the computer,
so it will be erased from my Sony.

Is it possible for me to transfer all of my programs -- including Microsoft
Word, Power Point, Excel, etc. -- to an external hard drive, and then --
after wiping the Sony system clear, to copy the Microsoft products BACK onto
my computer?

Thanks.

TJ

 

[Douglas J. Steele]

Nope. The program files are only a small part of the application. The
installation program makes hundreds (if not thousands) of registry entries
that are critical for the programs to work properly.

Your only option is to reinstall from the original installation disks.

BTW, this question really is off-topic for this newsgroup. It's intended for
questions about Access, the database product that's part of Office
Professional. A more appropriate group might have been
microsoft.public.office.setup

 

[Rick Brandt]

I purchased the Microsoft Office Suite several years ago, and I still have
the installation discs {somewhere}. My problem is that my Sony VAIO computer
has developed a problem that cannot be solved by Sony. They have recommended
that I use their recovery disc to reinstall everything that originally came
with my computer. The Microsoft Office Suite did NOT come with the computer,
so it will be erased from my Sony.

Is it possible for me to transfer all of my programs -- including Microsoft
Word, Power Point, Excel, etc. -- to an external hard drive, and then --
after wiping the Sony system clear, to copy the Microsoft products BACK onto
my computer?

You could do that, but they would not run. Copying like that is not the same as
installing. You would still be missing any files stored in Windows system
folders and would still be missing all the registry entries.

I would find your install disks, or take your unit to a local repair center.
The help desks for the major computer sellers will ALWAYS indicate that
restoring the disk to as-bought condition is the solution to every problem and
it is almost never necessary to do so.

 

[Mike Labosh]

Is it possible for me to transfer all of my programs -- including
Microsoft

Word, Power Point, Excel, etc. -- to an external hard drive, and then --
after wiping the Sony system clear, to copy the Microsoft products BACK onto
my computer?

No. Almost all software litters little bits and pieces of itself that are
all required, all over the system:

C:\Windows\System32\...
C:\Program Files\Common Files\...
C:\Documents and Settings\Username\...

As well as many other obscure places. Not to mention all the registry mojo.

Simply backing up your Microsoft Office tree is definately not enough. You
will need to locate your installation media for Microsoft Office.

For future reference, here is a useful tip: Go out to the store and get one
of those great big 3-ring binders that hold CD's for music lovers. That's
where I keep all my software, arranged in the pages in installation order,
with the CD-Keys written on the disks with a permanent marker.

--

Peace & happy computing,

Mike Labosh, MCSD MCT
Owner, vbSensei.Com

"Escriba coda ergo sum." -- vbSensei

 

[(PeteCresswell)]

Is it possible for me to transfer all of my programs -- including Microsoft
Word, Power Point, Excel, etc. -- to an external hard drive, and then --
after wiping the Sony system clear, to copy the Microsoft products BACK onto
my computer?

No.

But two suggestions:
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
1) Make a backup image of the new system.
After you get the office re-install working to your satisfaction, fire up
an imaging utility like TeraByte's "Image" or "Ghost" or any one of a
dozen others and make an image of that newly-installed system. They
aren't expensive. I think I paid something like fifteen bucks for
the Terabyte product. And you'll save a bunch of man hours the next time
you have to do this. Back up to DVDs or a pluggable USB drive.

2) Keep all of your data in one place and back it up.
Either format the laptop's drive into a 30-gig "C" drive for the system
with the rest as a "D" for data drive, or create a "Data" folder in
the C: drive.

One advantage of partitioning your laptop's drive into "C" and "D" is
that if you ever have to restore the system, your data will remain
untouched - no need to restore it from backup.

Another is that your system image will be smaller. Check out how much
space is currently being used on your "C" drive and that will tell
you how much space is really needed for the system. Add 20% to that
for CYA.

Whichever option you choose, get a backup program and run it regularly -
but only against the data - wherever you have chosen to aggregate it.