What does Microsoft mean by "install or reinstall Office"?

I have a license key for Visio Standard 2013, and I want to install it on my current computer.

I went to office.com and downloaded a fresh copy of the software. Everything was good up to the screen that says the license key has been added to my account. It says, "sign in to Microsoft account dashboard [link provided] with the account used to redeem it and install or reinstall Office."

I'm using the current version of Office Professional on this computer. The last thing I want to do is "install or reinstall Office" from the 2013 stamdard version! Is that really what the installer is proposing to do? Or is is just proposing to install Visio 2013, but explaining it very badly?

jhsachs said:

I have a license key for Visio Standard 2013, and I want to install it on my current computer.

I went to office.com and downloaded a fresh copy of the software. Everything was good up to the screen that says the license key has been added to my account. It says, "sign in to Microsoft account dashboard [link provided] with the account used to redeem it and install or reinstall Office."

I'm using the current version of Office Professional on this computer. The last thing I want to do is "install or reinstall Office" from the 2013 stamdard version! Is that really what the installer is proposing to do? Or is is just proposing to install Visio 2013, but explaining it very badly?

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I would venture that they want to update your Office to current. Rarely does MS want to let you keep old versions of their software running actively on your PC. I could be mistaken but I rather doubt it.

I don't think your answer really addressed my question. If Microsoft is going to insist that I install the currrent Visio instead of the one I have, why do they bother asking me to enter the license key? They don't offer upgrades.

Nevertheless, your answer appears to be accurate. I investigated further and learned that while it is theoretically possible to install Visio 2013 on the same computer as a current version of Office, it uses a .msi installer that is incompatible with Microsoft's current Click-to-Run installer, making the process difficult and hazardous enough to deter me from trying.

I'm left with four choices: Buy a current copy of Visio (~$160); buy a copy of Visio 2019, the first version compatible with modern Office (~$70); dig up a Windows 7 license key, or buy one ($60), and use it to install Visio 2013 on a separate virtual machine; or use a piece of freeware (e.g. draw.io) instead.

I suppose I should rejoice that I have a choice of four solutions. I need a drawing program, but only a few times a year, so it's hard to justify paying a lot of money for it or learning a new application. I'll have to give the problem some thought.

jhsachs said:

Visio Standard 2013

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jhsachs said:

I'm using the current version of Office Professional

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Mixing versions of Office suite components has always been problematic. And as usual, MS messages are totally ambiguous

I can only suggest make an image(s) of the existing installation, , try the installation and then restore the image if the installation fails.

I occasionally get an oddball prompt that my 2010 Office is "adding" something to Excel when I'm updating a totally unrelated application. It must be a conflicting common module that gets stepped on by the other application. Never have figured out what it's doing, but it doesn't seem to damage anything, so I just let it go, it's pretty quick whatever it's doing.

jhsachs said:

I don't think your answer really addressed my question. If Microsoft is going to insist that I install the currrent Visio instead of the one I have, why do they bother asking me to enter the license key? They don't offer upgrades.

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Sorry. That's all I got. I regret upgrading my Office. I loved the version I got when I ran my first version of Windows 7 Ultimate. Sadly, I had to upgrade it. I had some issues with Word when I was running ME but I'm still not sure if that was the fault of Win ME or MS Word. When I upgraded my original license key no longer worked. Now I'm paying for Word every year and it sucks because AI sucks and I really don't care for One Drive. This has been my experience. I don't think there is a solution for this. Only one more reason why so many are starting to transition to Linux.

Scannerman said:

Sorry. That's all I got. I regret upgrading my Office. I loved the version I got when I ran my first version of Windows 7 Ultimate. Sadly, I had to upgrade it. I had some issues with Word when I was running ME but I'm still not sure if that was the fault of Win ME or MS Word. When I upgraded my original license key no longer worked. Now I'm paying for Word every year and it sucks because AI sucks and I really don't care for One Drive. This has been my experience. I don't think there is a solution for this. Only one more reason why so many are starting to transition to Linux.

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You don't have to run with a subscription version if you don't mind running with an older version. I have a licensed Office and Visio 2010, and I've been using them since I got them. I first used them with Windows 7, briefly with Windows 8.1, and then Windows 10, and now Windows 11. They all still work fine. You can also buy a license for later versions before the subscription model and be once and done.