Here is the Question:  
I need to know what version of Microsoft Office is on a computer with
as little User intervention as possible.  The perfect scenario would
be to have a webpage that users could go to (similart to
www.whatismyip.com) and just have it display.  The problem is the
users are not knowledgable enough to even tell me this informaiton
accuately.

Here are some ideas any they dont work:

1.  Remote Desktop is a option threw MSN IM, but this cannot be used
in all situations because of security concerns adn many clients have
policies in place to not allow IM clients to even run.

2.  Remote Desktop or other remote software liek PC Anywhere is an
option but many of the users are not knowledge enough to be talked
threw setting that up.  I am not on the same subnet so VNC cannot be
used.

3.  We tried having them print out and fax us the print screen of one
of Offices Applicaions like MS Acess and going to help then About. 
This is problematic for clients that have large numbers of computers.

The only options that I have come across so far that seems to be able
to do the job is WMI.  Windows Management I believe it is called,
apparently you shoudl be able to querty a domain or a workgroup and
get back all software that is installed on all computers.  This would
work if I knew how to do it.  Basically I would just have to query the
domain or workgroup and see the computers names and all programs or
even just all programs assosciated with MS Office and there version
numbers (2k, XP, 2002, etc).

The other option would be something totally different from the above. 
Again very little User intervention must be needed.  And the webpage
would be the optimal solution.

Please excuse my spelling and grammer, thank you

Hi fraudh9er,

I believe what you are looking for is something like the Belarc
Advisor. It is a free download which will display a detailed profile
of the installed software and hardware on a computer.
http://www.belarc.com/free_download.html

I have just downloaded it myself to see if it is easy to use. Here are the steps:

Click on the large button "Click Here to Download Your Free Copy of
Belarc Advisor" - save it to the desktop so it is easy to find. It is
not a large file, only 604KB (less than 5 minutes). When it finishes
downloading -

Click on the icon named "Advisor".
Click on the "Install" button.
Click on the "I Agree" to the terms button.

At this point, the Advisor will automatically take a picture of the
computer and open a new browser window to display the list.

Scroll down to "Software Versions"
Find Microsoft Office .

Mine says: Microsoft Office Version 8.0 * 
If I click on the *, I see another list:
Index of file:///c|/Program Files/Microsoft Office/Office

Give it a try yourself and see how it goes. Hopefully you'll find it
suitable for your needs, but if not or if you have any questions,
please post a clarification request before closing/rating my answer
and I'll be happy to reply.

Thank you,
hummer

I did not do a Google search as I've known about this program for
quite some time (I used it years ago with good success when I knew
absolutely zero about computers).

---

Request for Answer Clarification by fraudh9er-ga on 12 Jul 2004 14:38 PDT

Seems like a pretty good program.  So I am assuming that if I want
something that will give me this programs ability for more than one
computer.  For Example if I wanted a listed of the programs installed
on computers in a subnet, or domain, etc.  Then I will have to
purchase the software adverstised on there website.  Or is there an
free alternative?  Free is good, either way it is not my dime anyway
:)

---

Clarification of Answer by hummer-ga on 12 Jul 2004 16:38 PDT

Hi fraudh9er,

Ah, yes, I hadn't taken into account the corporate license, had I? I'm
sorry. The three advertised on the Belarc website are rather more than
you are looking for in regards to managing the computers (but perhaps
that would be of help to you?).

Other network managing software does exist, for example:

Sitekeeper 3.1
http://www.qbssoftware.com/product_info.asp?current=DETAILEDINFO&product=SITEKEEP

TrueActive
http://www.trueactive.com/features/express.htm

I'm not sure what you would like to do in regards to this question.
Would you like me to ask the GA editors to remove my answer so another
researcher can help you find another solution to the MS Office version
problem, or do you think a network manager would be suitable?

Belarc *is* a nice little program, though.
hummer

---

Clarification of Answer by hummer-ga on 13 Jul 2004 05:33 PDT

Hi fraudh9er,

Here are some more possibilities -

DiagWin Professional 4.16:
"DiagWin software enables system administrators to quickly and
efficiently gather hardware, software, network, and security
information on all Windows-based desktops, laptops, and servers
deployed across the enterprise - without ever leaving your seat."
http://www.majorgeeks.com/download4198.html

BOSS inventory executable:
http://boss-solutions.com/Products/what_is_on_my_pc.aspx

ENT:
"Collect detailed information about installed hardware, software &
system settings on all the machines on your network."
http://www.microforge.net/

PC Info 1.0
http://www.majorgeeks.com/download2886.html

SystemInfo 1.01
http://www.majorgeeks.com/download340.html

Please let me know if I'm on the right track - 
hummer

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Request for Answer Clarification by fraudh9er-ga on 15 Jul 2004 15:59 PDT

Seems to be what I am looking for.  I am Testing Network Auditor 3.0
that I downloaded from the www.majorgeeks.com webpage.  The other
applications do way to much, the Network auditor scans the network and
brings back a report of what hardware and software is installed. And
then I can do a filter and tell it what I want, like just products
that start with Microsoft for example of included the work Office.  A
web interface would be nice for that, but what are you going to do. 
We would actually be willing to pay a little more for that, but as it
stands my questions if answered and I got what I wanted.  Let me know,
thank you.  OR do I have to post another question....

---

Clarification of Answer by hummer-ga on 15 Jul 2004 17:39 PDT

Hi fraudh9e,

Good, I'm glad to hear from you. I'll be happy to have another look
but major thunderstorms are moving through and I can't count on my
connection.
Here are a few links to look at for now - 

Centennial Discovery: web-based interface / software auditing:
http://www.centennial.co.uk/prod_webacc.html

ON Command Discovery?: Web-based interface / software inventory:
http://sea.symantec.com/content/product.cfm?productid=11

Reviews /
Inventory you can count on:
http://www.nwfusion.com/reviews/0531rev.html

Network Inventory Tool: 
http://www.expressmetrix.com/about/network_inventory.asp

I'll get back to you as soon as possible -
hummer

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Clarification of Answer by hummer-ga on 15 Jul 2004 18:09 PDT

SystemHound:
"systemhound? audit software gives you up to date accurate and
comprehensive hardware and software inventory information.
PC inventory made easy with a web-based interface!"
http://www.systemhound.com/html/index.htm

---

Clarification of Answer by hummer-ga on 16 Jul 2004 10:01 PDT

Hi. Just a note to let you know that I will be out for the rest of the
day and I'll work on your question Saturday - let me know what you
think of SystemHound. hummer

---

Clarification of Answer by hummer-ga on 17 Jul 2004 07:29 PDT

FOOTPRINTS
"FootPrints Asset Management This web-based tool is fully integrated
with FootPrints to provide FootPrints users with the ability to track
all the hardware, software and changes on your corporate network and
know where they're located when you're using FootPrints Asset
Management. While helping users, the help desk agent or administrator
can take an automatic snapshot of the user's PC configuration."
http://www.unipress.co.uk/cgi-bin/download.cgi

MOUSE TRACKS 2003:
-Fully Functional Help Desk Software with Integrated Email and Web Interface.
-Automated PC Inventory Software Package allows your company to get a
grip on Software Licensing Compliance.
-Built-in Fixed Asset Management Allows you to Track your IT Hardware
& Software from Purchase through Disposal.
http://www.gritware.com/

hummer

I got the Information that I wanted and he was really responsive and
willing to help to get me exactly what I wanted.  A++.  Thankss

the quickest least difficult way is have them email you an empty word
document , right click on it and under properties summaries it will
tell you the version of word they used and thus subsequently the
version of office

Why is vnc (not on same subnet) not an option? :) As long as *YOUR*
IP/dyndnsurl never changes, you can create a VNC "Helpme" icon that
brings up a users's computer on your screen, as long as you've got VNC
viewer (Listen Mode) on your PC, and your own firewall port forwards
TCP 5400 (IIRC) to your IP, it will work... I install VNC on all my
computers with just this configuration. Of course, I'd have to push a
new icon if my IP changes, but whatever. The beauty of the "Help Me"
icon is that (unless 5400 is blocked on the client side) the end user
doesn't even have to have VNC running as a service.

Still, opening Word/Excel/Access and going to Help, About is as good
an option as any to determine the Office version. There really
shouldn't be a communication lapse to be able to tell someone to do
Help, About, versus telling someone to go to a website and then type
in http: slash slash www. some site .com ... OTOH, it's billable hours
to help them figure it out :) :0 :)

The comment about the word documents was brought before.  The problem
is if they have a large number of machines then they have the go to
each and ever machine and email a file, there is no quarantee that
email is setup on every machine.

Tell user:

click on 'help' then 'about'


Ask user: 

what version ya got there?


do this to all the computers only once... im sure word dosent allways
get changed so the version will remain the same. If simple
computer/client communication is an issue then mabey they need a new
tech guy on the job.

If you really want a fancy program that will spread accross the
network and gather software versions then hire a c++ coder to make
one.. you dont need a gui or anything fancy, this program wont cost
much if you find the right person and the program shouldnt exceed
100k.

Well not to be rude, but there is a reason I am asking for something
extremely simple.  Most of our clients dont have IT guys, either they
cant afford them or they just dont have then.  or the IT guy they have
is not really an IT guy, and we cant go around insulting our clients
either, that would not be good would it.  Stuff on here is looking
pretty good pretty close to what I want but not quite.  The also have
time constraints so going around to every comptuer may or may not
work.

Funny thing is that is what we currently do and we have had surprises
when we get onsite, which is a waste of time and money on both sides. 
This is essentially what the question is tring to prevent, wasted
resources on either side.  BUt many thanks for all.

Here's a way to do it for free (at least, you can get a text editor or
other program to parse it, but ....

For Windows9x, (next two lines are one line)
regedit /e c:\addrem.txt
"HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Uninstall"

then, notepad c:\addrem.txt or send it to you or whatever. You can
send this as a .bat in email, have them click it (unless security
problems, but there are ways around it, like changing .bat to .bax and
instructions to save as go.bat when they get it...

This will tell you everything in add/remove programs.

Some apps are pleasant and have "Display Version" and others, well..
you might have to guess for context clues.

Windows 2k/XP will have a similar list from the respective Add/Remove programs list.

As much as I like the idea of looking at the Registry Key, it has to
be user friendly.  Basically if you wanted a person that have never
used a computer before to tell you what office version of all the
computers on there network. so again that would not work....

I work in Technical Support for an Internet related business, and I
have to get version numbers from people all the time. Even
non-computer users seem to be able to answer when you clearly ask:

"Click on the HELP link at the top"
"Click on ABOUT MICROSOFT WORD" (or even have them read you the
available menu items)
"Read me everything on that screen" or more simply, "look for a
version number there"

Give the people examples of what they are looking for "Word 97, Word
2000, Word 2002"

It takes a LOT less time than having them run a program, open a
website (where you have to get them to type in a URL), or connect
through somd remote desktop software.

Thank you for the nice note, fraudh9er, I'm happy you are happy. Sincerely, hummer