How To Get Legit Microsoft Office For Free
TLDRDiscover how to obtain Word and Excel for free without purchasing the full Microsoft Office suite. Learn about the Office 2010 Starter edition, an ad-supported version that was briefly offered by Microsoft. Follow a step-by-step guide to install it on your Windows 10 or 11 computer using an AutoIt script, while being aware of its end of life status and potential security risks.
Takeaways
- 📚 The video provides a method to obtain Word and Excel for free as an alternative to purchasing the full Microsoft Office suite.
- 💻 Most people can manage with just Word and Excel, but getting them requires paying over $200 for Office Home and Business or $100 for the student version.
- 💰 An alternative budget-friendly option is subscribing to Office 365 for $20 a month, but the video suggests a free method.
- 🎁 Microsoft once offered a free version of Word and Excel called Office 2010 Starter, but it was short-lived and discontinued after Office 2013.
- 🚫 Office 2010 Starter had limitations and was ad-supported, but the video creator couldn't find any significant limitations in Word.
- 📌 The video explains how to install Office 2010 Starter on any Windows computer, including Windows 10 and 11, using an AutoIt script.
- 🔍 The script downloads not only the installer but all related files, and its source code is available for review to ensure safety.
- ⚠️ After downloading, the user must follow instructions in the readme file to install Office 2010 Starter correctly.
- 🛠️ A post-installation update is required to enable the 'Click to Run' service for Office 2010, which is facilitated by an executable in the updates folder.
- 🔴 Office 2010 Starter reached its end of life in October 2020, meaning no more security updates, but it runs in a virtual machine adding a layer of security.
- 🔀 The video also mentions alternative free office suites like Open Office and Libre Office for those concerned about potential security risks.
Q & A
What is the main topic of the video?
-The main topic of the video is about obtaining Microsoft Word and Excel for free without purchasing the entire Office suite.
Why did the speaker mention the cost of Office Home and Business or the student version?
-The speaker mentioned the costs to highlight the expense of purchasing the full Microsoft Office suite and to contrast it with the free alternative they will discuss later in the video.
What was the name of the ad-supported version of Word and Excel provided by Microsoft in 2010?
-The ad-supported version of Word and Excel provided by Microsoft in 2010 was called Office 2010 Starter.
What were the limitations of Office 2010 Starter compared to the full Office suite?
-Office 2010 Starter had limitations such as not having access to more advanced functions in Excel and displaying ads in the bottom right corner of Word and Excel.
Why did Microsoft discontinue the Office 2010 Starter?
-Microsoft likely discontinued Office 2010 Starter because most users chose to use Word and Excel for free and did not purchase the full Office suite.
How can one obtain and install Office 2010 Starter today despite it being discontinued?
-One can obtain and install Office 2010 Starter by using an AutoIt script to download the necessary files and following the installation instructions provided in the video.
What is the significance of the Windows 10 license mentioned in the video?
-The Windows 10 license is significant because it allows users to activate their copy of Windows 10 and potentially upgrade to Windows 11 for free, as well as remove the watermark that appears on unactivated copies.
What is the potential risk of using Office 2010 Starter given that it has reached its end of life?
-The potential risk of using Office 2010 Starter is that it no longer receives security updates, which could make it a vector for security vulnerabilities in the system.
What alternative options to Microsoft Office are suggested in the video for those concerned about security issues?
-The video suggests using open-source alternatives to Microsoft Office, such as Open Office or Libre Office, for those concerned about security issues.
What is the main drawback of using Office 2010 Starter in terms of system resources?
-The main drawback is that Office 2010 Starter runs in a virtual machine, which creates a new drive letter (Q:) in My Computer, potentially conflicting with existing drives using the same letter.
How does the video conclude in terms of recommendations for using Office 2010 Starter or alternatives?
-The video concludes by recommending Office 2010 Starter for those who want a free version of Word and Excel, while also suggesting open-source alternatives like Libre Office for those who prefer a more secure and up-to-date option.
Outlines
💡 Free Alternative to Microsoft Office Suite
This paragraph introduces the viewer to a method of obtaining Word and Excel without purchasing the full Microsoft Office suite. It discusses the high cost of Office home and Business, as well as the subscription model of Office 365, and highlights a free alternative that Microsoft once offered. The speaker also promotes a sponsor that provides deals on Microsoft Office 2o and Windows 10 licenses. The main theme revolves around the possibility of accessing Word and Excel for free, which was initially available with Office 2010 Starter, an ad-supported version with limited features compared to the full Office suite.
📦 Installing Office 2010 Starter on Windows 10 and 11
The paragraph provides a step-by-step guide on how to install Office 2010 Starter on Windows 10 and 11. It begins by acknowledging the need for the AutoIt script to download the necessary files and reassures viewers of the script's safety. The process includes launching the script, navigating through the download, and selecting the desired language for the software. The speaker also mentions the need to extract the script and follow the instructions in the readme file for installation. The paragraph emphasizes the ease of installation and the large file size, suggesting that users should keep the script for future downloads if needed.
⚠️ Considerations and Alternatives for Using Office 2010 Starter
This paragraph discusses the implications of using Office 2010 Starter, noting that it has reached its end of life and no longer receives security updates from Microsoft. The speaker advises users to weigh the risks of potential security vulnerabilities against the benefits of using a free version of Office. It also mentions the virtual machine environment in which Office 2010 Starter operates, which provides an additional layer of security. The speaker warns users about the possibility of a drive letter conflict with the Q: drive and suggests hiding it if necessary. Finally, the paragraph offers alternative solutions, such as using open-source office suites like Open Office or Libre Office, and mentions a related video on a non-traditional use of a Microsoft product.
Mindmap
Keywords
💡Microsoft Office
💡Office 2010 Starter
💡VIPD Key
💡Windows 10
💡Office 365
💡Ad-supported
💡End of Life
💡Virtual Machine
💡Open Source Alternatives
💡AutoIt Script
💡Security Vulnerabilities
Highlights
The video provides a method to obtain Word and Excel for free, which is a deal originally offered by Microsoft.
Most people only need Word and Excel from the Microsoft Office suite.
Microsoft Office Home and Business costs over $200, while the student version, Home and Student, is $100.
An alternative is Office 365 with a monthly subscription of $20.
Microsoft previously offered an ad-supported version of Word and Excel called Office 2010 Starter with limitations.
Office 2010 Starter was available for free but had some functionality limitations compared to the full Office suite.
The video demonstrates how to install Office 2010 Starter on any Windows computer, including Windows 10 and 11.
An AutoIt script is used to download not only the installer but all related files for Office 2010 Starter.
The script is open source, allowing viewers to check the code for transparency and safety.
After downloading, users may encounter a 'Windows protected your PC' error, which can be bypassed to proceed with the installation.
The installation process is quick since all necessary files are pre-downloaded.
Office 2010 Starter requires an additional update to the click-to-run service to function properly.
A virtual machine runs Office 2010 Starter, providing an extra layer of security.
Office 2010 lost support in October 2020, meaning no more security updates will be released.
The installation process creates a new drive letter, Q:, for the virtual machine.
Users are warned that using an unsupported version of Office could introduce security vulnerabilities.
Alternatives like Open Office or Libre Office are suggested for users concerned about security.
The video also mentions a recovery environment using the Windows 10 recovery environment without pirated software.