MS Office 2010 click-to-run

This is a version of Office that runs in a manner that can be described as "virtually, via the Internet." With click-to-run there is no installed .exe file on the system. Microsoft describes it as a streaming and virtualization technology. It allows Microsoft to control your access to the software. You never truly have the software installed on your system. An executable is cached to the system only when Office is in use.

One advantage to click-to-run is that it allows users to sample a newer version of Office while at the same time having an older or different version of office already installed on the system. Microsoft states, the virtualization technology provides an isolated environment for Office to run on your computer. This isolated environment allows you to run the latest version of Office side-by-side with an earlier version of Office that is already installed on your computer.

Click-to-Run is an alternative to the traditional Windows Installer-based (MSI) method of installing and updating Office. If you install Office by using MSI, you have to wait until the whole Office product is installed before you can open and start to use the product. But with the streaming capabilities in Click-to-Run, you can open and start to use the product before the whole product is installed. While you are using the product, the rest of the product is being downloaded in the background. If you try to use a feature that is not yet downloaded and installed, Click-to-Run immediately downloads and installs that feature.

Using click-to-run requires an active Internet connection during the Office session. If you do not have Internet access, you cannot use click-to-run. After the product is completely downloaded and installed, users can disconnect from the network or Internet and continue to use the Office product. This is because the Office product is installed on the local computer.

technical notes

There is no way to extract a product key from Microsoft Click-to-Run.

Click-to-Run has several known glitches which can render it nonfunctional.

Users have the option to Switch from Office Click-to-Run to MSI-based Office without having to pay for an upgraded license. The user will have to know their Microsoft account credentials.

Switch from Office Click-to-Run to MSI-based Office

The license is the same. You do not need a new Product Key. If you have any questions, contact Microsoft Support.

1. Save all work, and then close all programs.
2. In Control Panel, open Programs and Features to see a list of installed programs.
3. Click Microsoft Office Click-To-Run 2010, and then click Uninstall.
4. To remove Microsoft Office Click-to-Run, click Yes.
5. Go to the Microsoft Office alternative fulfillment page.
6. Click My account.
7. Click Download, and then click Advanced options.
8. Follow the instructions.
9. To install the MSI-based Microsoft Office edition, run SingleImage.exe.
10. When prompted, type your Product Key to continue.

Online Resources

• Click-to-Run: Switch to using an MSI-based Office edition

Other Versions (clarification)

MS Office Starter is now Click-to-Run. There are older versions of Office Starter. Here is a quick tip on Office Starer repair:

• Launch Program and Features from Control Panel
• Right-click on Microsoft Office Starter Edition 2010 and choose Change
• On the next screen click Yes to start the repair
• Once the repair completes click OK

Office Click-to-Run has no exe file on the drive. If you see something that looks like the following then you have a full version of Microsoft Office and not Click-to-Run, or you have both, because with Click-to-Run you can still have another version installed.

• Word: C:\Program Files\Microsoft Office\Office14\WINWORD.EXE
• Access: C:\Program Files\Microsoft Office\Office14\MSACCESS.EXE
• Excel: C:\Program Files\Microsoft Office\Office14\EXCEL.EXE
• Publisher: C:\Program Files\Microsoft Office\Office14\MSPUB.EXE