Microsoft Office XP Small Business Edition and Windows XP Home Edition

[anl4smiles]

My problem involves:
Microsoft Office XP Small Business Edition and Windows XP Home Edition.

My Dell computer came with Windows XP Home Edition already installed. (I have a Dell reinstallation CD). Later on I downloaded part of Microsoft Office XP Small Business because I needed Excel. Well I no longer want Microsoft Office XP Small Business on my computer. I went to Add/Remove and removed Microsoft Office, however, I want to be sure that all components relating to Office XP are gone. Is there a way to do this?

Note: Because I borrowed the Office XP CD from someone else, I started getting a message during startup that my copy of Windows was not genuine. After using Add/Remove, I am still getting this message. The computer refers to the software as Windows XP Professional, stating it is not genuine, and gives me the option to resolve now or resolve later.

The funny thing is, when I start the computer it says I am using Windows XP Home Edition, which is genuine.

I read on Microsoft's website that in some cases, XP Professional cannot be uninstalled.

I really hope you can help.
Thanks,
Smiles

[azzey]

Ok...

First of all, we do not encourage or support pirated software here. But since the Windows operating system is genuine, there should be a reason for you to get the Genuine Advantage notification. Since Office XP SB was downloaded, there is no guarantee that it was ever free of viruses or spyware. So in an essence, we can't really help you here. You could start by running the adware programs and doing an antivirus scan.

[Personally, I would suggest just backing up your data, using the Dell Restore CD to reinstall Windows. This time, purchase Microsoft Office or use OpenOffice and you will not have any problems. ]

[mjc]

Oh boy...there is so much with what you did.

At this point, it would probably be best to save your data somewhere else and wipe the drive out, then use that Dell restore disk and start over.

There isn't going to be any way to clean up what you have enough for it to start reading as being "Genuine" any longer. I'm not sure you can actually 'uninstall' all of Office (any version) once you've installed it...it is so integrated into Windows, it even replaces quite a few core components with "Office" versions.

That isn't even getting into the fact that if you used a downloaded version...which means bootleg, the chances of having some really nasty infection are about 100%. In fact, it would probalby be best, after your wipe and reinstall, to change passwords and if you used any credit cards or did any financial transactions, to change them too...the chances of having a keylogger or password stealer are too high.

Also, any data you backup should be thoroughly scanned...preferably before you use it again...

[Fred_Flintstone]

There isn't going to be any way to clean up what you have enough for it to start reading as being "Genuine" any longer. I'm not sure you can actually 'uninstall' all of Office (any version) once you've installed it .

That statement is the gospel truth!! :eek:

I did the same thing as you last year.. installed a "dodgy" copy of office and no matter what I tried I could not get it completely removed from my system!!

Had to clean install windows before it stopped telling me that my windows xp was counterfeit!!..and had to reactivate with Microsoft over the phone. :p :p

[anl4smiles]

The Office was not a download...just borrowed someone eles's disk(s). Fortunately, I am no longer receiving the not genuine message. Why, I am not sure...but at least it's gone
Smiles