Unfortunately this is still a click-to-run install, and still requires a Microsoft account. You can also install from a DVD as discussed here, if you download the DVD image from Microsoft. Maybe these are fixed now, maybe not, but this choice has been removed. Personally I prefer the non-virtualised install, after experiencing problems with previous versions of Click and Run. When you do, you enter the supplied product key, following which the unavoidable next step is to sign in with a Microsoft account.Īnother feature of Office Home and Business 2013 (again different from Office 2010) is that there is no way (that I know of) to install it other than via Click and Run, which uses application virtualisation. Specifically, the normal way to install is to go to. The Office 2013 purchase is then tied in to some extent to that account. You might think that an Office 365 subscription counts as a “Microsoft account” but it is the wrong kind: it is an “organizational” account in Microsoft’s jargon, which is a subtly different creature. Office Home and Business cannot be activated without a “Microsoft account”. Next, they set up the laptop for Office 365 and install their new Office 2013. Note the designation Home and Business, indicating that it is fine for business use.

They buy with it the closest equivalent to the Office 2010 Product Key Card, which is Home and Business 2013, this guy: With me so far? Now comes the moment when a new member of staff joins, for whom a new laptop is purchased. Since they already have Office, purchasing the more expensive Office 365 subscription (£9.80 vs £5.20, or £55.20 extra per user per year) which includes desktop Office is poor value ( update: see comments for more notes on this option).This is licensed only for the PC on which it is first installed. That would normally be the OEM version or more recently the Product Key Card (PKC) equivalent. They normally buy laptops with Microsoft Office.All their staff have Office 365 E1 accounts (for small and midsize businesses).

A small business contacted me with a perplexing problem related to Office 2013 and Office 365.

Home and office 2013