Office 2010, latest version of Microsoft Office, enters public Beta – get it for free
November 18, 2009 37
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Do you use Microsoft Office? There’s a good chance you do. There’s also a pretty good chance you have heard about the new and upcoming Microsoft Office 2010. However, you probably didn’t know about the public beta Microsoft is running for Office 2010; anyone and everyone can use Microsoft Office 2010 Beta for free until October 2010.
Before I tell you how to get the Beta, why should you use Microsoft Office 2010? Microsoft gives you ten reasons why (warning: a great amount of corporate cheerleading is involved in the following list):
Anyway, to get started with Office 2010 Beta, just visit Officebeta.microsoft.com:
From there, just follow the links that say things like “Download” or”Get it Now”:
After two or three clicks you’ll reach the Windows Live sign in page:
Just enter your credentials and click “Sign In” (if you don’t already have an account you will have to register – registration is free). You’ll be redirected to a page featuring your activation code, and at the very bottom, a “Download” button:
Be sure to read the “Important: Read This” section: It’s, well, important. Down at the bottom of the page is a download section; in it, they offer two downloads: One for 32bit, one for 64bit. If you don’t know which one to get, use the 32bit version. Click on the “Select Language” dropdown and select your language. Then just click the large blue “Download” button.
A window like this should pop up:
Just wait until it turns into this (but if boxes pop up click Allow or Yes):
Allow it to download the ~750 MB file. This may take some time! When it is done, click Launch: it takes the place of the Pause button:
Then let it extract the files:
Then, it’s on to the install! Accept the EULA and click whichever type of install you please:
I selected Custom and then selected everything there was to install:
Click Install Now and wait; it may take some time:
After it installs it will add a smile and a frown to your status bar: to show that you’re happy with a feature, click a smile. To show you dislike something, click a frown:
You will also be prompted register online; you don’t need to do it so click close. Then open the main window from the start menu; I will open Word for the purposes of this article:
(Looks nice doesn’t it? They even have a cancel button! I’ve always wanted that.)
Click on the “File” tab and from there the “Help” tab on the left. Click on “Change Product Key”.
A box will pop up. Type in the product key you received earlier (or paste it in if you have it copied) and click Continue:
It will prompt you to do an “Install” or a “Custom Install”. Click install and it will register the Office programs:
And then you’re set: MSOffice 2010 is yours (for free) until Ocotober of 2010. At October 2010 the beta will expire and you’ll be left with a cold dark feeling as though you should pay Microsoft to permanently keep the software you’re so familiar with.
Version reviewed: 14.0.4536.1000
Supported OS: Windows XP(SP3)/Vista(SP1)/Windows Server 2003 R2/Windows Server 2008 (SP2)/Win7
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have 32 bit office and install says will NOT install 64 bit unless 32 bit version is UNINSTALLED so I guess you CANNOT have versions side-by-side. A pity.
@Samuel – as for the Outlook subject – I had problems with this on previous 2010 install so had to reinstall office 2007. You think one can install the whole 2010 package without the Outlook and use the 2007 Outlook?
mario
@Mario: You should be able to, just make sure you have all the settings correct. The only problems I can for see is if Outlook opens or is opened by an Office 2007 program, but I can’t think of any reason that would happen (attachments don’t count here since it’s really windows opening them).
@Samuel – thanks. Will have to find some time to try this option then. If it works, and when it works I’ll try to post the result.
@Mario: No problem. Another thing you could try installing Office 2010 in a VM. Thats what I might end up doing since I want to use all the 2010 programs but I want to keep 2007 for the times when it reminds me that it’s still a beta.
I just thought of something. If you do not register, it will not expire and the only thing you lose is the updates.
@Locutus: Oh, I understand now, sorry.
@OldElmerFudd: Yes, the 32-bit installer installs over your current office installation if it is 2007, if your current installation is 2010, it requires you to uninstall it completely before installing. The 64-bit installer requires that you manually uninstall any 32-bit versions of any office programs (all of them).
@Ozzie: I don’t know about copy plain text, but it has paste plain text.
@k.subramanian: If you are upgrading to 32-bit Office, it will remove it for you, but if you are upgrading to 64-bit office, you will have to remove it yourself.
i had problem with instalation office 2010 beta, the instaler need msxml 6.10.11290, where i can get msxml 6.10.11290? please someone give me download link of that.. Thx
@yossi: http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?displaylang=en&FamilyID=d21c292c-368b-4ce1-9dab-3e9827b70604 Though if you have Vista or 7 you should already have it.