OK, be kind it's my first post, and I have TRIED to search and find the answer.

We want to upgrade a few computers here from Office 97 Professional ( stop laughing !! ) to Office 2003 Professional.
I have tried Office 2007, and do not care for it.

From the searching I have done, it looks like you can transfer the retail version ( not an OEM version ) from one computer to another; as long as you un-install it from the old computer.

I found out how to tell what edition ( retail, OEM, enterprise ) of Office 2003 is installed on a computer.

My question is, if I find a used computer, that has the retail version of Office 2003 Professional installed, can I buy this computer and legally transfer Office 2003 from it ??
I will of course un-install it from the used computer.

It seems like that would be legal, but I'm wondering if only the original buyer of the software can transfer it.

I hope this is possible ( ie legal ! ) because I have contacted a few people that have used computers for sale cheaper than the cost of just Office 2003.

Quite simply, no its not legal. Its against the Microsoft EULA to transfer software in such a manner.

You'd still need installation media.

If the PC's came with a legit licence with serial keys you could use it however it would still be against microsoft EULA and you may have problems activating it.

"transfering" will not work and without a licence is simple illegal.

Maybe " transfer " isn't the term I should of used.

They have the original packaging ( CDs, serial key #, etc ) from the retail version of Office.

I guess it's more like "buying" a used copy of Office, that WILL be removed from the original computer.
With my luck, this is probably against the EULA also.

If you can't tell, I'm a cheap *astard, but still want to be legal.
There are only 3 things I wont mess around with ( because it would cost me big bucks in the end ) :

The Ex-Wife
The IRS
Microsoft

Just found this in the EULA for Office 2003 Professional Retail.

" If you are the person who initially licensed the Software, you may make a one-time permanent transfer of this EULA, Software and Certificate of Authenticity ( if applicable ) to another end user, provided that you do not retain any copies of the Software "


So I think I'm good to go !

Maybe !