Removing account while keeping MS Office

rwpirie2 · 04 Jan 2019

Hi,
I recently bought my wife a new laptop and purchased MS Office 2019 for it. Her old computer had MS Office Professional 2016 which, because I didn't have the product key, couldn't be transferred to the new PC. I would like to give her old laptop to a neighbor girl who is in need of one but want to leave MS Office on it.

Here's my issue:
I would like to remove my wife's account information, all data files and software EXCEPT MS Office. Is there some relatively painless way to do this? Otherwise, I'll be forced to remove everything before giving the machine away.

Thanks for any help.

Rob

Berton · 04 Jan 2019

The licensing of Office could be a problem depending upon where it was obtained such as if an employee of a company or education organization with their different licensing conditions from OTC or OEM sources. [The latest I have installed is Office 2013, oldest is Office 2000] This is prompted by the not having the Product Key to reinstall. Also involved is the identities in various programs, probably wouldn't want them showing.

When I give away or sell a used/rehabbed computer I wipe them clean or by using the reset feature keeping nothing and most time the User name is set as Owner. A different User can always be established. Then I install several free programs for productivity such as LibreOffice, VLC/Video LAN and others that may be needed for Internet support.

bro67 · 04 Jan 2019

Do a wipe and reinstall. Since you are handing the unit with the keys to the new user, just do a OOB (Out of Box) setup and let her activate Office in her name. You just have to go into Sign in to your Microsoft account to delete the Office install from the wife's account, for that Product Key and device.