Microsoft checking up on old Office installations

Jan 21st, 2023 1:11 pm

#1

Scote64 [OP]: Deal Fanatic; Jan 21, 2018; 7826 posts; 8512 upvotes; Vancouver

Jan 21st, 2023 1:11 pm

Microsoft checking up on old Office installations

https://www.theregister.com/2023/01/21/ ... nt_update/

Microsoft is pushing a silent update to old Office 2007/2010/2013 installations to phone home and report details to Microsoft. Purpose unknown - market survey? Precursor to special update offer? Or precursor to a downgrade of functionality to encourage Office 365 adoption? Checking up on licencing?

Jan 21st, 2023 2:05 pm

#2

aaron158: Deal Addict; Nov 25, 2004; 3911 posts; 2639 upvotes; London

Jan 21st, 2023 2:05 pm

whats the point. not like u have to update office. any major bugs in version that old surely were most likely already worked out years ago

+1

Jan 21st, 2023 2:48 pm

#3

ROYinTO: Deal Fanatic; Dec 12, 2009; 5543 posts; 3041 upvotes; Toronto

Jan 21st, 2023 2:48 pm

Is it silent if you see it during the update?
It caught my eye because it mentioned the version I still use.

+1

Jan 21st, 2023 4:20 pm

#4

mrweather: Deal Fanatic; Aug 29, 2011; 8599 posts; 5518 upvotes; Mississauga

Jan 21st, 2023 4:20 pm

I’m on Office 2019 and got the “notice” the other day when I launched Outlook.

+1

Jan 21st, 2023 5:34 pm

#5

death_hawk: Deal Expert; Aug 22, 2006; 29317 posts; 14824 upvotes

Jan 21st, 2023 5:34 pm

*laughs in Office 2003*

I kinda wish I was kidding but I still have a few of them installed.

Do you not have anything else to do rather than argue with strangers on the internet

Nope. That's why I'm on the internet arguing with strangers. If I had anything better to do I'd probably be doing it.

+1

Jan 22nd, 2023 12:13 am

#6

alpovs: Deal Fanatic; Sep 16, 2013; 7194 posts; 4854 upvotes; SW ON

Jan 22nd, 2023 12:13 am

mrweather wrote: ↑ I’m on Office 2019 and got the “notice” the other day when I launched Outlook.

What "notice"?

+1

Jan 22nd, 2023 7:47 am

#7

mrweather: Deal Fanatic; Aug 29, 2011; 8599 posts; 5518 upvotes; Mississauga

Jan 22nd, 2023 7:47 am

It was a window that popped up with the Office365 logo which said something like “checking for software authentication” or something like that.

My Office 2019 is legit: I paid extra for it when I bought the computer new in 2019.

+1

Jan 22nd, 2023 9:53 am

#8

JAC: Deal Expert; Apr 16, 2001; 16260 posts; 2941 upvotes

Jan 22nd, 2023 9:53 am

mrweather wrote: ↑ My Office 2019 is legit: I paid extra for it when I bought the computer new in 2019.

Did you get a card with a serial number that you attached to your Microsoft account or was it simply pre-installed?

Automatic down-votes: Eufy, D-Link, TP-Link, Newegg, Canada Computers, any Chinese-owned cellphone, laptop or IoT device.

+1

Jan 22nd, 2023 10:47 am

#9

mrweather: Deal Fanatic; Aug 29, 2011; 8599 posts; 5518 upvotes; Mississauga

Jan 22nd, 2023 10:47 am

I believe I got a separate card with the serial number (it was 3+ years ago). The computer is a ThinkPad T480 I ordered directly from Lenovo.

+1

Jan 22nd, 2023 11:18 am

#10

jonnycee1: Sr. Member; Jun 21, 2022; 662 posts; 893 upvotes; Gta

Jan 22nd, 2023 11:18 am

death_hawk wrote: ↑ *laughs in Office 2003*

I kinda wish I was kidding but I still have a few of them installed.

Yes!

+1

Jan 22nd, 2023 1:41 pm

#11

alpovs: Deal Fanatic; Sep 16, 2013; 7194 posts; 4854 upvotes; SW ON

Jan 22nd, 2023 1:41 pm

mrweather wrote: ↑I’m on Office 2019 and got the “notice” the other day when I launched Outlook.

mrweather wrote: ↑ It was a window that popped up with the Office365 logo which said something like “checking for software authentication” or something like that.

My Office 2019 is legit: I paid extra for it when I bought the computer new in 2019.

I don't know how this is relevant to this thread as it is about Office 2007/2010/2013.

+1

Jan 22nd, 2023 3:58 pm

#12

mrweather: Deal Fanatic; Aug 29, 2011; 8599 posts; 5518 upvotes; Mississauga

Jan 22nd, 2023 3:58 pm

It's relevant because it also appears to be happening with newer Office products.

+1

Jan 22nd, 2023 5:20 pm

#13

alpovs: Deal Fanatic; Sep 16, 2013; 7194 posts; 4854 upvotes; SW ON

Jan 22nd, 2023 5:20 pm

mrweather wrote: ↑It was a window that popped up with the Office365 logo which said something like “checking for software authentication” or something like that.

My Office 2019 is legit: I paid extra for it when I bought the computer new in 2019.

mrweather wrote: ↑ It's relevant because it also appears to be happening with newer Office products.

Why do you think your pop-up was related to this Windows update? "Microsoft said that it is a single-run, silent process" designed to send some info to Microsoft. If it produced a pop-up why would it have an Office365 logo? I checked my update history and didn't see this update (KB5021751) listed, so I can't say how it really runs but it is more likely that your pop-up was from some Office365 product you or Windows installed in addition to your 2019 Office on your PC, such as Teams, One Note etc.

+1

Jan 23rd, 2023 6:47 am

#14

apnayloags: Deal Fanatic; Nov 13, 2010; 7728 posts; 1777 upvotes; Scarborough

Jan 23rd, 2023 6:47 am

Probably gauging how many havr the old versions and they will wanna force ppl to get new versions and pay again…..

I just installed alternate ‘free OfficeLibre’ for the occasional need to use, free