Office 2003 installation help

audiobliss

I have two sets of Office 2003 discs, each good for two installs. I used ONE of them on my laptop, and I have no recollection of which one I used. Well, I ended up adding a user to my laptop and deleting my old account, and now I get an error when I open Office, so I was just going to reinstall it.

However, how do I know which product key to use? Does it matter? I'm pretty sure I've installed both of them twice, so I would think I need to use the same one again. How can I find out, or can I?

Thanks!

Serendipity

audiobliss wrote: »

I have two sets of Office 2003 discs, each good for two installs. I used ONE of them on my laptop, and I have no recollection of which one I used. Well, I ended up adding a user to my laptop and deleting my old account, and now I get an error when I open Office, so I was just going to reinstall it.

However, how do I know which product key to use? Does it matter? I'm pretty sure I've installed both of them twice, so I would think I need to use the same one again. How can I find out, or can I?

Thanks!

I'm not sure if this may help, but what I do is try to install on another machine and see if it activates. If it doesn't, I know that I already used the disc two times.

What get me upset is that when buying a laptop, I had returned one to the store and bought another one. That counted for 2 installs. Now I can't install Office on a PC that I want to anymore.

petrym

Install it and activate the installation, if it activates, you're okay. Iif it doesn't activate, call the tech support number and explain the situation, if you tell them what the deal is, they'll allow the installation and you'll be legal.

audiobliss

petrym wrote: »

Install it and activate the installation, if it activates, you're okay. Iif it doesn't activate, call the tech support number and explain the situation, if you tell them what the deal is, they'll allow the installation and you'll be legal.

Awesome info. Thanks.

Serendipity

petrym wrote: »

Install it and activate the installation, if it activates, you're okay. Iif it doesn't activate, call the tech support number and explain the situation, if you tell them what the deal is, they'll allow the installation and you'll be legal.

Wait - so if in my case I buy a laptop and then return it, and then buy a *totally different* brand laptop, I can still install Office one more time?

When I did this the Activation wizard told me that I had exceeded the maximum number of installs. But I had only used it once, the second one was on the laptop that I returned to the store.

petrym

appadv wrote: »

Wait - so if in my case I buy a laptop and then return it, and then buy a *totally different* brand laptop, I can still install Office one more time?

When I did this the Activation wizard told me that I had exceeded the maximum number of installs. But I had only used it once, the second one was on the laptop that I returned to the store.

You'd have to uninstall it before you return it. Again, explain it to the tech support software **** if there are any problems with activation.

Serendipity

Uninstall Office before I return the laptop? Or the software?

I've gotten by with returning the Office CD to the store once, but they told me usually you can't return software. They made an exception for me and let me exchange the disc.

Serendipity

petrym wrote: »

You'd have to uninstall it before you return it. Again, explain it to the tech support software **** if there are any problems with activation.

That didn't work, Microsoft basically said that if you had this issue you should've contacted them or uninstalled first. They also said the same thing about my Windows Live OneCare, I installed it on a machine that sat in storage for 8 months and when I went back to reactivate it, I couldn't get the remaining of the subscription that I paid for.

This is even more annoying than Office, as the OneCare subscription starts the first time you install it on a PC. So if your machine breaks and you return it to the store, the next time you install it you're on the *second use* and that subscription isn't going to last you a year.

exalted512

So I have one copy of office 07 I cant put it on my laptop and my desktop?

I know someone who put one office 2003 on his laptop and his desktop without any problems?
-Cody

Serendipity

exalted512 wrote: »

So I have one copy of office 07 I cant put it on my laptop and my desktop?

I know someone who put one office 2003 on his laptop and his desktop without any problems?
-Cody

You can do that, as the license allows for two installations (at least for the retail version).

The issue is if you were to buy a laptop, return it to the store, and then exchange for another laptop. That would count as 2 installations even though you only have one laptop.

exalted512

got ya!
-Cody

WilliamM2

appadv wrote: »

That didn't work, Microsoft basically said that if you had this issue you should've contacted them or uninstalled first. They also said the same thing about my Windows Live OneCare, I installed it on a machine that sat in storage for 8 months and when I went back to reactivate it, I couldn't get the remaining of the subscription that I paid for.

This is even more annoying than Office, as the OneCare subscription starts the first time you install it on a PC. So if your machine breaks and you return it to the store, the next time you install it you're on the *second use* and that subscription isn't going to last you a year.

Activation is a joke. Call them and tell them that you are re-installing, when they ask why, tell them it was due to a hardrive failure, or some other repair. They will re-activate every time. This works for XP and Office.

I am NOT suggesting anyone do this for illegitimate reasons.

Serendipity

WilliamM2 wrote: »

Activation is a joke. Call them and tell them that you are re-installing, when they ask why, tell them it was due to a hardrive failure, or some other repair. They will re-activate every time. This works for XP and Office.

I am NOT suggesting anyone do this for illegitimate reasons.

This didn't work for me, and I have the retail (boxed) version of Office 2003. Same thing with OneCare - they said 1 year of virus updates starts from the FIRST time you use it, and they don't care if you returned a laptop to the store and exchanged it for a new one.

The lady on the phone said I had to call MS then, they can't do it a year later.

WilliamM2

If didn't work for you, then you are answering some of their questions wrong.

I also have retail versions of both XP and Office 2003. I have built a new computer 3 or 4 times since buying each of them, the last time was just a month ago. I have never been denied reactivation.

How many computers is this currently installed on:
One

Is this the first time you have activated:
No

Why are you re-activating:
Hard drive failure

Every answer I give is true, except the last one. I find that if you try and describe any other reason , it's too much for them to understand.

Serendipity

I've been telling them the truth, that I bought and returned a laptop with their software on it.

WilliamM2

appadv wrote: »

I've been telling them the truth, that I bought and returned a laptop with their software on it.

Which to their thinking, means that it is on too many computers, but it isn't. Of course in reality, you should have uninstalled it before returning the laptop. You have a legal license, try again, and use the answers I stated above. like I said, I am not advocating anything illegal, my copies really are only on one computer, but when you give them the full story, it's more than they can deal with apparently.

Activation is just a pain for legitimate users, it doesn't stop pirates at all. I know people that have installed the same copy on dozens of machines, without any hacks or other nonsense. They just lie when they call.

Serendipity

WilliamM2 wrote: »

Activation is just a pain for legitimate users, it doesn't stop pirates at all. I know people that have installed the same copy on dozens of machines, without any hacks or other nonsense. They just lie when they call.

Isn't that unethical though?

I bought a retail copy of the software so I should be able to install it on 2 PC's. Activation is just a pain really.

audiobliss

He said they lie. I'm pretty sure that implies unethical.

WilliamM2

appadv wrote: »

Isn't that unethical though?

I bought a retail copy of the software so I should be able to install it on 2 PC's. Activation is just a pain really.

Of course that is unethical, and illegal. Like I said, I am not advocating anyone do that. Just telling you how it works.

But you have a legal copy. Is it ethical for them to not let you use it.

Serendipity

WilliamM2 wrote: »

Of course that is unethical, and illegal. Like I said, I am not advocating anyone do that. Just telling you how it works.

But you have a legal copy. Is it ethical for them to not let you use it.

Yeah, I agree. I should be allowed another install.

Serendipity

Okay, it worked. Now I have a copy of Office on my laptop and on my desktop.

Thanks!

bobman1235

There's nothing unethical about getting around the copy protection IF you purchased and paid for the product and can't get it to work like it is licensed to work. Tech support can sometimes be helpful, they can also sometimes be a bunch of bumbling fools.

Serendipity

bobman1235 wrote: »

There's nothing unethical about getting around the copy protection IF you purchased and paid for the product and can't get it to work like it is licensed to work. Tech support can sometimes be helpful, they can also sometimes be a bunch of bumbling fools.

Yeah, I just told them that my computer died and I'm reinstalling due to the hardware failure. Worked like a charm.

petrym

Hardware failure works everytime... just tell them your Hard Drive is clicking a couple of times a second.

Serendipity

petrym wrote: »

Hardware failure works everytime... just tell them your Hard Drive is clicking a couple of times a second.

So audiobliss, did this work for you?

audiobliss

I didn't need to. I reinstalled it with my product key just fine.

mmadden28

WilliamM2 wrote: »

Which to their thinking, means that it is on too many computers, but it isn't. Of course in reality, you should have uninstalled it before returning the laptop. You have a legal license, try again, and use the answers I stated above. like I said, I am not advocating anything illegal, my copies really are only on one computer, but when you give them the full story, it's more than they can deal with apparently.

Activation is just a pain for legitimate users, it doesn't stop pirates at all. I know people that have installed the same copy on dozens of machines, without any hacks or other nonsense. They just lie when they call.

Shouldn't matter whether its uninstalled or not. No retailer will resell a computer without reimaging the drive at the very least-there is simply too much risk of malware being on that system or other software anomalies. Its likely also that the retailer will simply RTV it, and again, no way-no how will any legitimate computer manuafacterer resell a system with a previous users data on it. MS should understand this-So in my opinion, reporting that the hard drive was dead does not hurt anything and is not illegal to do so in this case-some of the CS reps you deal with are literally working from a script, and really just don't get what happened-as WilliamM2 mentioned, it gets very difficult to explain. With a failed hard drive-its fairly certain that you couldn't uninstall and the CS rep will follow a different more streamlined script.

You still legitimately and legally own the right of license-MS should be able to activate you with a code over the phone. I work with many computers that can't activate over the internet and have to deal with the convoluted codes and painstaking process all the time--have not had any problems yet (other than frustration and wasted time).
Since you actually returned the computer, then you should have no problem providing proof to MS (such as a fax of the reciept).
If they are unwilling to assist , return the copy of Office to the retailer as a defective copy, the manufacturers defect being that will not install / activate (tis the truth) and ask for an even exchange (not a return). If you have to, explain the situation to the store manager-any store manager with half a brain should be able to help (I've seen enough bogus returnes and CS fialings in my years, that this would be a no-brainer for good customer service.

Personally I don't even use Office at home any more, or on any computers I build for friends. I use OpenOffice.org- for the price (free), and simple activation process (none required), it simply can't be beat.

mmadden28

Sorry-didn't finish reading the posts-I see that your problem is resolevd.

audiobliss

Yes, it is thankfully. But thanks for the input.