MS software missing after hard drive replaced

Barnaby44 · 06 May 2021

Hello
I'm not sure where to place this so I come here first.

I had a HD failure and after I had the HD replaced the free [short] version of Office was missing. All my other soft ware has been recovered 'cept for the MS Office.
I have installed the free ON-LINE version but it does run S L O W , particularly the email client.
Two things: 1/ can I retrieve the missing original software that was loaded in by the PC manufacturer. [8 years old]
2/ if not is there a way to speed up this free version.

Thanks

Bastet · 06 May 2021

Did you clone or image the original hard drive to the new drive?
If it came with the PC then no you wouldn’t be able to recover it unless you can access the drive to recover the software & the key.

f14tomcat · 06 May 2021

Barnaby44 said:

Hello
I'm not sure where to place this so I come here first.

I had a HD failure and after I had the HD replaced the free [short] version of Office was missing. All my other soft ware has been recovered 'cept for the MS Office.
I have installed the free ON-LINE version but it does run S L O W , particularly the email client.
Two things: 1/ can I retrieve the missing original software that was loaded in by the PC manufacturer. [8 years old]
2/ if not is there a way to speed up this free version.

Thanks

I don't know about Mesh computers, but a lot of OEMs allow you to download the installed apps by signing into the Vendor's site with your account. I know I can do that with my Dell (Alienware) system. It may be a way to access the missing data/apps.

Bree · 06 May 2021

Barnaby44 said:

...I had a HD failure and after I had the HD replaced the free [short] version of Office was missing. All my other soft ware has been recovered 'cept for the MS Office.....

What other software (besides that which comes with Windows) got 'recovered'? Who replaced the HDD for you, and how did they reinstate all your other software? Did they manage to clone your old drive, or did they reinstall the software?

Which 'free' version of MS Office did you have? The only 'free' version I'm aware of (besides the on-line one) was Office Starter 2010. I have that on one of my PCs, it was already there in Win7 before it took the free upgrade to Win10.

Office Starter 2010 cannot be reinstalled. It was only available if the PC was supplied with Office 2010 pre-installed by the OEM. On first opening Office you were given the option of purchasing Office, or using the free Starter version.

Two things....

There is a third option. Install one of the free Office suites. LibreOffice is well thought of. That's what I use on my machines that didn't come with MS Office.

Home | LibreOffice - Free Office Suite - Based on OpenOffice - Compatible with Microsoft

Barnaby44 · 06 May 2021

Hello
Bastet, sorry missed the first 2 replies but it was installed by Mesh @ build so no go then.

Thanks for that suggestion TC, I'll try that later.

Bree hi,

What other software (besides that which comes with Windows) got 'recovered'? Who replaced the HDD for you, and how did they reinstate all your other software? Did they manage to clone your old drive, or did they reinstall the software?

A local PC repair person, he cloned every thing.

Which 'free' version of MS Office did you have? ................. was Office Starter 2010.

Yes it was the Starter 2010.

Office Starter 2010 cannot be reinstalled. It was only available if the PC was supplied with Office 2010 pre-installed by the OEM. On first opening Office you were given the option of purchasing Office, or using the free Starter version.

Yes that's what I did, BUMMER if not now available.

I now have the MS Office suit, the free online version which is very slow is there any fix for that.
I do have LibreOffice available too but preferred to keep to MS if possible mainly for the email client and excel but If I can't speed it up I'll look to change over.

Thanks