I attempted to download the Office 2007 trial for a customer.

I tried both from the MS website (USA and Australian variants), and via a google search.

In all cases, I had to wade through at least 4 microsoft pages, each with lots of nice pictures… looking for the elusive “download now” button.

When I eventually found the button, pressing it took me to another page, etc etc, until I was told I had to subscribe to MS .net passport…. What?

OK, fill in the form, click OK, and for about 4 or 5 times, it would not like something on the form (besides, I had to say I lived in Florida, as there were only USA states available… oh how I hate that!).

Anyway, after jumping through hoops, login using the MSN id, wade through a few more pages of marketing drivel, I’m eventually told:

You are attempting to submit an order without any items in your shopping cart

But I was never given an opportunity to put Office 2007 in my cart!!! grrr. I just want to download a trial, not apply for defence clearance!

After some research, I eventually find (via whirlpool) that microsoft have carefully hidden the download url at: http://office.microsoft.com/en-au/products/HA101741481033.aspx

At last. I download the trial (without most of the “jumping through hoops”), and it installs correctly, and is also smart (its a relative term) enough to recognise the old version of office, and basically tells me it can:

• blow away the old office (with no indication of whether it will keep the setup data from the old one… a scary option for most people)
• leave the old software where it is (but it says something like: office 2007 probably won’t work properly)

Not much choice is it?

I made sure I backed up the outlook data (which was my main concern), and I opted for the first option (exterminate office 2003).

Luckily it did the right thing, and automatically imported the outlook 2003 settings into outlook 2007.