Message Forums

Quote: Originally posted by mr.paul on 18/4/2008

---

Sooz,
You can definitely install small business edition on 2 PC's at the same time - I have done this. The warning you got about reduced functionality was to remind you that it needs to be activated (verified by MS in other words) which can be done on line. As long as you are on line when you install or uninstall so that the microsoft servers can keep a track of your licence and how many PC's it is on you'll be fine.

There are alternatives to MS office. Open Office is free and generally works OK, but I have to use MS for complete compatibility with customers and suppliers. Could you use an alternative?

---

Hi Sooz, I am in full agreement with mr. paul re the notice you saw. I have reformatted my machine a few times in the last few years and each time reinstalled the progs from disc for XP and office, as long as you go through the process correctly then should be no problems, I have pro and have it on 3 machines, none of which are giving me any problems, well apart from when grandkids open areas they shouldn't! lol

Open office is a good rival to MS but as said above it is not always compatable with others machines unless they too install it.

Ok thtas brilliant - I rang MS and they confirmed the above so I will upgrade laptop anyway. Am now looking at student and teacher 2007 - son is doing BTEC computer studies next year so he needs to be compatible with school systems. However if I can install office 03 on more than 2 machines I won't bother with that!!

Thanks all so much for your help - its much clearer now - I've been running on office 2000 for so long am well out of date!

Have just ordered 5 dell laptops and a base unit all specced with XP??

Have a look here they do allow XP

http://www1.euro.dell.com/content/topics/segtopic.aspx/winxp_inspndt?c=uk&cs=ukdhs1&l=en&s=dhs

Victor

Oh yes I looked at those - but you have to pay £50 extra for xp unless I'm missing something?