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Didn't it seem like only yesterday when we made the Microsoft Office 2010 Beta available? Actually, it's been nearly a year! Since then, Office 2010 has experienced over 9 million downloads — more than 6 times the size of the Office 2007 Beta.
With so many folks out there using the Office 2010 Beta, this is our gentle reminder that the Beta is set to expire on Halloween. For those of you who live outside of North America, that's Sunday, October 31, 2010.
If you've been busy putting all of the new programs through their paces, you've already experienced many of the cool new features that can make your life easier. Personally, I've decided that I can no longer live without the Ignore Conversation button in Outlook 2010, linked notes in OneNote 2010, photo editing in Word 2010, using video in my PowerPoint 2010 presentations, or making walls of numbers come alive with Sparklines in Excel 2010. You get the picture.
As the instructions and the licensing agreement first explained when you downloaded the Office 2010 Beta, you'll have to uninstall the Beta software from your computer before you can use the released version of Office 2010. To do this, go to the Control Panel in Windows 7 (or Windows Vista) and click Uninstall a Program. It's pretty straightforward, but in case you have any trouble uninstalling the Beta, head on over to our Microsoft Answers forums for help.
If you have already selected the Office 2010 suite that's right for you, the fastest way to get the released version onto your computer is to download it. Not only is this option an eco-friendly way to help reduce packaging waste, it's also great for procrastinators who may not have planned ahead. ;-) If you'd prefer to receive the traditional DVD in a box, you can have it shipped to your door.
And if you didn't get to fully test-drive all of the Office 2010 programs you wanted, you can still take extra time to evaluate the Office 2010 products before committing to a purchase. Visit Office.com and download one of our fully functional 60-day trial versions. They're free and place no restrictions on any of the features.
As the Office 2010 Beta comes to a close, here are some shortcuts where you can read about all of the new and improved features in the individual Office 2010 programs and how you can make the transition more easily:
• What new in Access 2010• What's new in Excel 2010• What's new in Outlook 2010• What's new in OneNote 2010• What's new in Publisher 2010• What's new in Word 2010• Office 2010 migration guides
Remember... October 31st is nearly here and the Office 2010 Beta will stop working at that time. Set yourself an Outlook reminder now, to make sure you won't forget to upgrade to the full Office 2010 experience.
Meanwhile, I'd love to hear how you enjoyed the Beta and what you think of the new and improved features in the programs. Please post a comment below. Thank you!
-- Michael C. Oldenburg
Comments: (37) Collapse
Dear Microsoft,
I have been involved with your products for years but, ever since Bill Gates left the company seems to be going downhill. Did someone not tell you that using Oct 31, 2010 and an image of a "Shocked Businessman" from your own files might just not be the best way to break the news?
Years ago Bill Gates told all departments to enable your products for the Internet. It took time but, it happened. Now you have lost out in the phone market 6.5 was a mess. And you have ignored the massive growth in Social Media. Why? Enable every product to work with Social Media. Take the 6.5 link on the new web page announcing Windows 7 phones off ASAP. Who runs the company anyway? People were mad as heck because your old phone OS locked up and NO Support was ever provided. Millions of dollars consumers spent on phones went down the drain.
Oh and while I am at it would you please explain to me why the main people who answer the phones in Redmond will be happy to tell anyone how much they love their Droid phones. Hey call the Scottsdale store and ask the staff there how many iPhones they have.
Please wake up, smell the coffee, buy or make a deal with Adobe and you would have something Jobs does not. Also remind people that Apple has no tab or arrow keys. Great commercials can be made but, I am not a PC and thank god Windows 7 was not my idea.
Millions of people feel like I do. Stuck in neutral. So get the car going now. Bing has gone bong so make deals or what ever it takes to get back to Number 1. Tell Bill his wealth is still tied to all that stock. He needs to come back for a time just like Steve Jobs did. Look at their stock price!
Thanks and I hope to see this posted online.
Thanks Michael... Thank you very much for your nice info as The Office 2010 Beta is about to expire. Every reader will know whats going to happen.
I've been trying to buy the retail package for a while. But I'm in Japan. The MS shop won't let me buy it. In fact, it spots I'm in Japan and sends me to the Japanese site. That doesn't have the English version available. Amazon USA won't ship it. Amazon Japan doesn't stock it (though it does have Windows 7 English). MS is making it unnecessarily difficult because it thinks my needs are defined by my IP address.
Don't expire Beta!
We tested it, we've given you free feedback....toss us a bone, let us keep it!
I know this is not practical, but I had to say it :-)
Thanks for keeping us up to date and happy trails!
Best Regards,
Brian
Please provide some direction. I've been trying to uninstall the Office 2010 Beta product. I've already purchased the Office 2010 Professional Plus, but some components of the Beta product remain reagrdless of the methodology used to remove it. I've tried all the tactics presented on the support pages as well as the "Control Page" uninstall. The Cr2.Exe from the Fix-It dialog on the support site fails as well. Who can I talk to, or how can I remove this Beta product from both my desktop and alptop?
Does this apply to the Release Candidate as well?
@Mike: Thank you for your feedback.
@Ranjani and @Brian: Thanks for the kind comments, they're much appreciated.
@Pete: Most sites do sniff out your IP to help direct you to the correct location. If you live in Japan but want the U.S. version of the software, have you tried manually changing the default region (you should see a control for this near the top right of the screen on Office.com and the Microsoft Store web sites). Let me know if this solves the problem. If not, I'll see what I can do to help.
@Henry: If you're having trouble uninstalling or restoring a previous installation, please follow the "Microsoft Answers" link that I've included in the blog post. That's the fastest way for you to receive assistance with a particular configuration issue. Thank you for trying out the Beta.
@Mike H: Correct — after October of this year, no preliminary versions of Office 2010 will remain functional.
Mike, It's difficult to believe that it has been almost a year since this beta came out for use. I love everything except the "not responding" issues I have. I don't know if this is a Windows issue or Office. However, I appreciate the use of Office Beta for the past many months. Cheers!
Tnx for the testdrive of the Beta version ! It was a bit intimidating at the start, but now I can't live without it. Especially love the photo-editing in Word ! Must bite the bullet and buy it... ;-)
I was just wondering.. when you say it expires on Oct. 31, do you mean at midnight on Saturday night or Sunday night? Trying to finish up two essays and don't have the money to purchase it until later this week. Thanks!
@Steph, if it expires on you, just download the Office 2010 trial until you're able to buy the full version. And, if you don't have enough time still, you can always download Go-oo, a version of OpenOffice that lets you open and save in the Open XML format!
I had no idea that when the BETA version expired, it would completely shut me out and not allow me to get the mail I have previously downloaded out of the BETA program and into the new version. How do I do that if the BETA won't even work and must be uninstalled before installing the new version! HELP........... My mail is being held hostage. I am in total shock at the way this transition is being handled!
@Shannan I'm in the same exact boat. Atleast let us recover our information.
I was not aware that Office 2010 BETA was about to expire. I am more than happy to buy it. BUT only if I CAN HAVE MY DATA back please! How is this done.
Again, I am more than happy to purchase this software HOWEVER I will only do this is I can transfer all my data (a years worth of emails/dates in outlook and diary ?!?!?!)...
Assistance on this would be most appreciated - until then I feel like I am being held hostage - there should be a link within the program to 'upgrade the beta' not just to download a new...c'mon microsoft get working on this and I'm sure you'll see the $ £ rolling is (as usual)... or maybe that was the plan with Halloween and leaving your customers 'in limbo' ?
thanks
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