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Don’t buy Microsoft Office when you buy a new computer

This post is not outdated and kept for historical purposes only. Please visit this link for updated information on how NOT to buy Microsoft Office.

Despite what big box store sales people try to sell you, don’t buy a copy of Microsoft Office. On all new commercial computers today, manufacturers install a trial version of Microsoft Office AND a copy of Microsoft Office Starter Edition.

Microsoft Office Starter Edition does NOT expire and is every bit as functional as its costly brethren. The Starter editions includes only Word and Excel. If you need PowerPoint or other Office components, then yes, you will have to pay for it, but for many, many users, the Starter Edition with Word and Excel is more than adequate.

If you buy a new computer, here’s how to setup the Microsoft Office Starter Edition:

1.  Click Start –> All Programs –> Microsoft Office

2.  Click the Use Office Starter 2010 button

3.   Click green Open button on next screen

4.  Wait for Windows to install and configure the program

5.  Click Accept on the Microsoft Office License screen

6.  Click Use Recommended Settings option, then OK on next screen

7.  Word will open and you will find access to both Word and Excel in your All Programs menu under the Microsoft Office Starter Edition folder.

8.  Click the Donate button to the right of this tip to donate some of the $100+ I just saved you!!  😉

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8 thoughts on “Don’t buy Microsoft Office when you buy a new computer”

  1. Pingback: Geek Squeaks (#74) – Malwarebytes, Kindle Fire, Save Gmail Messages to PDF, Encrypt Notes In Evernote, and All You Need Is MS-Office Starter Edition « What's On My PC

  2. Big Geek Daddy

    While I knew MS Office 2010 Starter Edition could be installed via a separate download I never stopped to consider it was already part of the trial installed on new computers. This is very useful information and I’m going to share you post with my Facebook Fans.

  4. Ron

    I downloaded(free)openoffice.org and it has all the features of office. no ads that the word starter as.

  6. Curtis Klink

    I’ve found it alarming the information on spyware and virus problems hasn’t been keeping up with the threat. It seems like ages since spy ware or virus software benefited from any focus greatly. I’m wondering if that’s the reason why attacks continue and people tend to be falling victim to malware and spyware.

  7. Adrienne Bergen

    I used the starter version for a year with no problem and then all of a sudden when I saved a document the folder icon became a gold color and I could no longer open, just get a sign saying I need to purchase the program. Any clues why this would happen, thought I could use the starter version forever. My OS is Windows 7

  8. Ivey King

    I too have been using Starter for over a year now with no issues, but a couple weeks ago it started prompting me to buy Office whenever I try to open email attachments. I can still use the program otherwise and retrieve documents that were downloaded previously, but it refuses to open any new attached documents. Any clue as to what’s going on?

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