I have a new computer without Excel loaded. I went to load my original of Excel and found that it is an upgrade, thus I can't load it without a qualifying product. I want to stay legal with MS, but I also don't want to fork out another $150-200 for Excel for a new computer, since I own an upgrade that is mine and just forked out for a new computer.

Is this a solution that will work? Install a colleague's original Excel, with it's original 12-15 uses, etc. then immediately intall the upgrade over that? I would never have to register the original version. Thanks!

If you don't have your original Excel installation CDs, then your upgrade is pretty much worthless. It would be piracy to install someone else's version of the software just so you can use your Upgrade CD. There are free alternatives to paying $229.00 for the full version of Excel; Open Office is free. You may want to consider that.

Life is more painless for those who are brainless.

I don't know about Office, but Windows can be installed from an upgrade disc by simply inserting the old disc for verfication