Backup Microsoft Office Data Before Reformatting Hard Drive
- Will I Lost Microsoft Office If I Reformat Hard Drive?
- About Microsoft Office activation
- Method 1. Backup and restore Microsoft Office activation status
- Method 2. Transfer Microsoft Office account to new computer
- Steps to back up Microsoft Office data with Qiling Disk Master
- How to transfer Microsoft Office account to new PC?
- Conclusion
Will I Lost Microsoft Office If I Reformat Hard Drive?
You're considering reformatting your hard drive or performing a factory reset due to issues with your computer, but be aware that this will result in the loss of all data and applications, including Microsoft Office. This drastic measure is often necessary to restore your computer to its original state, but it's essential to back up any important files and programs before proceeding to avoid permanent loss.
Instead of backing up the entire hard drive before reformatting, you can focus on backing up your Microsoft Office app, as you've already paid for it and don't want to purchase a new license to activate the program. This guide will walk you through how to backup your Microsoft Office data before reformatting, so you can easily transfer it to your new setup.
About Microsoft Office activation
Microsoft requires users to enter product keys to activate Office, starting from Windows XP. If you format your hard disk drive and reinstall Windows, you'll need to reinstall Office and reactivate it before using it normally, with a limited time to activate online.
The activation process for a new SIM card involves entering a unique activation code, which can be obtained through a phone call to the service provider, and then typing it back into the computer. However, this method has been criticized for being inconvenient and time-consuming.
In the following part, we will introduce you two methods that can help backup Microsoft Office before factory reset.
Method 1. Backup and restore Microsoft Office activation status
To avoid reactivating Microsoft Office after a clean reinstall, it's essential to backup your Office activation. This step is crucial, especially when reformatting your computer. By backing up your Office 2010, 2013, or 2016 activation, you won't have to go through the hassle of reactivating the software after reinstalling.
1. To activate Microsoft Office, first ensure it's successfully installed. Next, open the Run box by pressing the Windows key + R. Type 'services.msc' and press Enter to open the Services window.
2. Locate Office Software Protection Platform Properties, and stop this service.
3. Copy the folder named OfficeSoftwareProtectionPlatformProperties, which should be in C:\ProgramData\Microsoft.
Restore the Office activation status
1. Install the same edition of Microsoft Office.
2. To ensure the Office Software Protection Platform Properties service is stopped, follow the instructions. The service should be stopped to prevent any potential issues.
3. Paste the copied folder to the location C:\ProgramData\Microsoft and replace the original folder if there is one. This will ensure the updated folder is used by the system.
4. Enjoy using Microsoft Office.
Method 2. Transfer Microsoft Office account to new computer
To prepare for re-activating your Microsoft Office account, it's recommended to back up your data to a safe location first. You can use Qiling Disk Master Standard, a free software for Windows, to save your data to an external hard drive, USB flash drive, NAS, network path, or cloud drives, including Qiling Cloud if you have an account. This will ensure you can easily access your data afterwards.
You can also compress backup image files if they become too large, providing an extra layer of convenience. Additionally, you can upgrade to enjoy an image protection feature, offering an extra layer of security. You can download and try it out.
Steps to back up Microsoft Office data with Qiling Disk Master
1. Install and run the freeware, then select "File Backup" under the "Backup" tab.
2. Add the "Microsoft Office" folder located in the "C:\Program Files (x86)\ " directory to the backup by selecting the "Folder" option.
3. Click "the second box" to select a location as the destination path for uploading the file.
4. Click "Proceed" to run the backup. Waiting for completion.
How to transfer Microsoft Office account to new PC?
To switch Office accounts, start by closing all Microsoft Office applications and then click on the Start menu to select Settings. From there, click on "Accounts" and then "Your email and accounts" to add a new Microsoft account. Enter your new account credentials and follow the prompts to sign in.
- Step 1. Deactivating Microsoft Office account on official website
1.1 Open a web browser and navigate to stores.office.com/myaccount, then press Enter.
1.2 Sign in to your account and log in to the Microsoft Store, where it will display the installed apps of your account.
1.3 Click the "Install" button in orange, and then click "Deactivate Install". Confirm on the pop up window.
After deactivating your account, using Microsoft Office will have limited capabilities.
1.4 Uninstall Microsoft Office from "Control Panel" > "Programs".
- Step 2. Reformat your computer
To safely reformat your computer, first ensure you have backed up all important files. If you're running an operating system, you'll need bootable media to format. This will allow you to safely erase all data and start with a clean slate.
- Step 3. Activate Microsoft Office account on a new PC
You can reuse a Microsoft account by reinstalling the operating system on a computer or using the account on a different device. This allows you to access your Microsoft Office account from a new computer or after a system reformat.
3.1 On the new computer, open a web browser and then input the same url: stores.office.com/myaccount. Press Enter.
3.2 Sign in and log in as before. Click "Install" to download a setup file.
3.3 Find the setup file and double click it to run. Then, it will start installing Microsoft Office application.
3.4 Click Sign in and then type your email address to associate the account. The software installation process may be lengthy, and it's recommended to refrain from restarting or shutting down your computer until the installation is fully completed.
Connect the external hard drive to the new computer.
Conclusion
To backup Microsoft Office data before a factory reset, you can choose to backup office activation, reinstall Microsoft Office, and restore the Office activation status. This allows you to easily re-activate your account later. Simply choose a method that suits your needs.
To protect unlimited computers within your company, you can use Qiling Disk Master Technician, which allows you to deploy or restore system image files on multiple client-side computers over a network using its built-in Qiling Image Deploy tool.
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