Singing in the wrong key

As many of you are aware, I actually test our stuff to make sure it's working.  I signup for my webcasts and test that process.  I signup for our live events and test that.  I have a TechNet subscription.  I do this so I can see what you see and hopefully head off any issues.

So I grabbed one of the Launch 2007 Resource Kits at my show on Thursday and just got around to testing the Office 2007 download.  I encountered the following instructions:

Office 2007 Product Download Procedure

To install your copy of Office Professional 2007 and Office Groove 2007, please follow these steps:

1. Click on the link below for the product you'd like to download and install - a new window will open.
2. On the product page, click "Try now for FREE!".
3. Log-in to Passport (Windows Live ID).
4. Please provide Registration information and click "Continue".
5. On the download page, click "Download Now". Please use the Product Key provided in the kit you received at the launch event to unlock your product. Disregard the trial Product Key presented on this page*.
6. Product download times will vary.
7. Once the download completes, click "Continue".
8. You will receive an email during the download process – please DISREGARD the Product Key in that email and ONLY use the Product Key provided in the kit you received at launch.

The net net is that the key you received with your kit, is the non time bombed key to use.  Sorry for any confusion on this.  I guess we decided to leverage the download area which is very very fast.  I received the download at 1.8meg per second.  Smokin.

Comments

• Anonymous
  January 24, 2007
  Hi Keith, I tried sending this as an email through your contact form, but when I hit send it seemed to hang forever.  I am using Firefox though, and I know sometimes Firefox and Microsoft don't play nice...but wanted to mention it in case there is a problem. I've been to a couple of your presentations and after spending about 45 minutes looking through Microsoft's site for the information, I thought I would just email you.  I understand you can install the new version of Office 2007 on three computers (let me know if I'm wrong).  With Office 2007 Standard Edition, is the same true?  Does one copy work for three computers in the office?  Microsoft licensing always seems a bit confusing to me, so I would appreciate your help with this. By the way, we have really enjoyed the presentations you have done. Thanks, Misty Olen

• Anonymous
  January 24, 2007
  The comment has been removed

• Anonymous
  January 25, 2007
  Both me and a friend downloaded the two files from the website provided with the resource kit that was handed out.  One file downloaded as an .exe and the other downloaded without an extension altogether.  Both of us figured that the file without an extension was just data that would be referrenced when executing the other file.  When running the one executable file, you are prompted with an option to install accounting tools or Outlook 2007 Business contact manager (which only works if 2007 is already installed).  I realized, after poking around a bit, that the file without an extension was actually the Office Pro 2007 Instalation.  Just slap an .exe on the end of it to run and all was well.  I just thought it was odd that it was downloading this way, it could be confusing...I know it was for me.  Since it happened to both of us (using IE), I figured it would be the same for all users.

• Anonymous
  January 26, 2007
  The comment has been removed

• Anonymous
  January 26, 2007
  Misty, I don't know, but will check.

• Anonymous
  January 26, 2007
  Keith, The same thing that Beau reports happened when I downloaded the 2 files. Nothing seems to be wrong with the files though. They work fine when you slap .exe at the end of the first one (X12). You might want to have "the guys" look into this because 2 is coincidence and 3 is conspiracy. Meanwhile, I recorded some audio in Tulsa today so you might just hear some of your audience on a podcast.

• Anonymous
  January 26, 2007
  Can you guys give me more information?  For instance, what OS and browser are you using?

• Anonymous
  January 26, 2007
  Thanks for the launch event you gave in New Orleans, sir.  I thought your presentation was confortable and warm.  Anyone who did the download need only READ the instructions.  It was pretty clear. Thanks for the post on it anyway.

• Anonymous
  January 26, 2007
  The comment has been removed

• Anonymous
  January 26, 2007
  I am running Windows XP Professional and using Internet Explorer 6.0.  I'm finding through talking to others that have attempted to download Office, that the problem is hit and miss.  Some people don't have the issue and others do...odd.  At least the fix is simple!

• Anonymous
  January 26, 2007
  Just another quick FYI...Microsoft might want to double check next time they call people to inform them of the event parking fees.  We were all called and told to bring $4.00 for parking at the hotel.  When we left the hotel we were all charged $8.00 instead.  Not a big deal, but some of us only had $4 and were caught in a sticky situation holding up cars.  At least I didn't have to pawn my watch or anything...lol.

• Anonymous
  January 27, 2007
  Misty,  I reviewed the EULA during my install this evening.  It was very clear to me.  One machine only.  Sorry.

• Anonymous
  January 27, 2007
  Hi Keith, Thanks for looking into this....I never think to read the EULA. Misty

• Anonymous
  January 29, 2007
  For the past couple of weeks, attendees of the US "Ready For A New Day" launch tour have been receiving

• Anonymous
  January 31, 2007
  The comment has been removed

• Anonymous
  February 08, 2007
  The comment has been removed

• Anonymous
  February 08, 2007
  Gordon, there's no problem downloading to a machine you aren't installing on.  Regarding the second question, you might want to look into our deployment tools.  With WinPE and ImageX, you can capture an existing machine, then deploy the captured image to a new machine.  There will be some caveats because Windows Vista activation will trip due to the change of the machine configuration. CompletePC backup/restore might be easier.  But I haven't done a restore to a completely different machine.  That might be a fun test for this weekend.

• Anonymous
  March 10, 2007
  The comment has been removed