Activation problem with Office 2003

[Alex Munday]

Hope someone can help! I bought a computer with trial version of Office 2003,
that expired and so bought a full retail version. All working fine but now
all programs are 'locked' and reduced functionality. Have tried to go into
help menu and activate whilst connected to internet but nothing happens and
no message appears to say already activated! Any ideas..?

Thanks, alex

 

[JoAnn Paules [MSFT MVP]]

I've heard nothing but complaints about people who tried to dump a full
version of Office on top of the trial version instead of uninstalling it and
then installing the full version.. (That could be because those that are
successful don't post.)

http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;831023

(Even this article starts if you still can't convert the trial, uninstall
the trial.)

 

[Samkl]

Sadly you don't go looking for solutions UNTIL you have a problem so I don't
quite know what you are getting at. I had exactly the same problem with my
OEM version cept I had no manual or manufacturers instructions to suggest I
uninstall the preloaded trial before I tried to put the SB Ed on. As a home
user I don't have access to an IT section to assist with software problems.

To be fair the OEM tech support (NOT their highly expensive and limpwristed
software assistance) came up with the correct diagnosis. The M$ tool to
clear the registry of the remnant of the trial ed that they sent me
initially did not work. However I had no way to test whether the tool was
defective or the diagnosis was incorrect.

Eventually, faced with deconstructing the computer's software and trying a
clean install I phoned the tech support in desperation. They told me the
first tool was defective and sent me a file containing a new M$ tool
<remove.zip> which contained a Readme instruction on how to use the tool
PLEASE NOTE VERY USEFUL and a file called <remove.cmd>. I had to uninstall
SB ed first then run the tool. This cleared eleven files out of the
registry. I then reinstalled SB ed and it activated perfectly first time.

Soo Jo Anne instead of being sniffy about folk in trouble perhaps you could
route them to this remove tol file where ever it is stashed on the M$ site.

Yours SamKL

I've heard nothing but complaints about people who tried to dump a full
version of Office on top of the trial version instead of uninstalling it and
then installing the full version.. (That could be because those that are
successful don't post.)

http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;831023

(Even this article starts if you still can't convert the trial, uninstall
the trial.)

--

JoAnn Paules
MVP Microsoft [Publisher]

Hope someone can help! I bought a computer with trial version of Office
2003,
that expired and so bought a full retail version. All working fine but now
all programs are 'locked' and reduced functionality. Have tried to go into
help menu and activate whilst connected to internet but nothing happens
and
no message appears to say already activated! Any ideas..?

Thanks, alex

 

[JoAnn Paules [MSFT MVP]]

I wasn't being "sniffy" (whatever that means). I made a comment - that's
all. I think it should be in writing somewhere that the best route is to
uninstall the trial version first. And in large font.

I've seen enough computer problems to suspect that using a different product
key could cause problems. A lot of computer users either don't have
experience or really don't want to think about potential problems. They want
to install and continue working.

And just so you know, I'm not in IT, I don't have an IT staff at my beck and
call. I base my actions on past experience and intuition. I'm just glad that
I can help my friends and family so they don't have this problem.

--

JoAnn Paules
MVP Microsoft [Publisher]

Sadly you don't go looking for solutions UNTIL you have a problem so I
don't
quite know what you are getting at. I had exactly the same problem with
my
OEM version cept I had no manual or manufacturers instructions to suggest
I
uninstall the preloaded trial before I tried to put the SB Ed on. As a
home
user I don't have access to an IT section to assist with software
problems.

To be fair the OEM tech support (NOT their highly expensive and
limpwristed
software assistance) came up with the correct diagnosis. The M$ tool to
clear the registry of the remnant of the trial ed that they sent me
initially did not work. However I had no way to test whether the tool
was
defective or the diagnosis was incorrect.

Eventually, faced with deconstructing the computer's software and trying a
clean install I phoned the tech support in desperation. They told me the
first tool was defective and sent me a file containing a new M$ tool
<remove.zip> which contained a Readme instruction on how to use the tool
PLEASE NOTE VERY USEFUL and a file called <remove.cmd>. I had to
uninstall
SB ed first then run the tool. This cleared eleven files out of the
registry. I then reinstalled SB ed and it activated perfectly first time.

Soo Jo Anne instead of being sniffy about folk in trouble perhaps you
could
route them to this remove tol file where ever it is stashed on the M$
site.

Yours SamKL

I've heard nothing but complaints about people who tried to dump a full
version of Office on top of the trial version instead of uninstalling it
and
then installing the full version.. (That could be because those that are
successful don't post.)

http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;831023

(Even this article starts if you still can't convert the trial, uninstall
the trial.)

--

JoAnn Paules
MVP Microsoft [Publisher]

Hope someone can help! I bought a computer with trial version of Office
2003,
that expired and so bought a full retail version. All working fine but
now
all programs are 'locked' and reduced functionality. Have tried to go
into
help menu and activate whilst connected to internet but nothing happens
and
no message appears to say already activated! Any ideas..?

Thanks, alex

 

[Samkl]

I wasn't being "sniffy" (whatever that means).

Slightly elitist/dismissive of others who are not fortunate enough to share
your knowledge. Or are you suggesting that one should not buy a PC unless
one has formal training in software/hardware engineering? Plug n' play, now
there's a laugh.

I made a comment - that's

all. I think it should be in writing somewhere that the best route is to
uninstall the trial version first. And in large font.

I agree, unfortunately it rarely is.

I've seen enough computer problems to suspect that using a different product
key could cause problems. A lot of computer users either don't have
experience or really don't want to think about potential problems. They want
to install and continue working.

If folk thought about potential problems would any home users buy a PC?
Most of us just want to use the machine, as we do in work. We do not want to
become trained IT technicians. I have been tripped up before by buying
products that have a set of requirements on the box which have been
exceeded by my system, but I would not work because of chipset problems etc,
etc. Now when we buy stuff we don't go trawling for problems before we
start, partly because if we don't know what the problem is we will not know
where to look for it.

When you upgrade software you do not always have to uninstall the original
problem. Manufacturers, particularly with OEM software, do not provide
adequate
instructions. Potential problems are not advertised on the outside of the
box or in most magazine reviews for obvious commercial reasons.

IMHO the industry does not offer adequate support to those who merely wish
to use the technology

 

[JoAnn Paules [MSFT MVP]]

You still don't get it. I think it sucks that so many people are having
problems when they convert. Either the conversion needs to be tweaked until
there are no problems or MS should post in LARGE LETTERS that if you don't
uninstall the trial version first, you may have problems. I'm not calling it
a user error, I'm calling it a software problem.

Is that clear enough *now*?


(And, I know this will cause comments, but I happen to believe that if you
are going to use a computer, you need to learn how to maintain it. You
learned how to check the oil level in your car and how to fill the tank. You
need to learn *some* things to keep your computer working. I'm not saying
you have to be able to build one from scratch - I don't know if I'd be able
to do that - but you can't just figure that everything will be fine and you
can go along blindly.)

--

JoAnn Paules
MVP Microsoft [Publisher]

 

[Samkl]

You still don't get it. I think it sucks that so many people are having
problems when they convert. Either the conversion needs to be tweaked until
there are no problems or MS should post in LARGE LETTERS that if you don't
uninstall the trial version first, you may have problems. I'm not calling it
a user error, I'm calling it a software problem.

Is that clear enough *now*?


(And, I know this will cause comments, but I happen to believe that if you
are going to use a computer, you need to learn how to maintain it. You
learned how to check the oil level in your car and how to fill the tank. You
need to learn *some* things to keep your computer working. I'm not saying
you have to be able to build one from scratch - I don't know if I'd be able
to do that - but you can't just figure that everything will be fine and you
can go along blindly.)

--

JoAnn Paules
MVP Microsoft [Publisher]

Slightly elitist/dismissive of others who are not fortunate enough to
share
your knowledge. Or are you suggesting that one should not buy a PC unless
one has formal training in software/hardware engineering? Plug n' play,
now
there's a laugh.

I made a comment - that's


I agree, unfortunately it rarely is.




If folk thought about potential problems would any home users buy a PC?
Most of us just want to use the machine, as we do in work. We do not want
to
become trained IT technicians. I have been tripped up before by buying
products that have a set of requirements on the box which have been
exceeded by my system, but I would not work because of chipset problems
etc,
etc. Now when we buy stuff we don't go trawling for problems before we
start, partly because if we don't know what the problem is we will not
know
where to look for it.

When you upgrade software you do not always have to uninstall the original
problem. Manufacturers, particularly with OEM software, do not provide
adequate
instructions. Potential problems are not advertised on the outside of the
box or in most magazine reviews for obvious commercial reasons.

IMHO the industry does not offer adequate support to those who merely wish
to use the technology

 

[Owner]

I just have to jump into this fray as an extremely competent computer
user who, when no one said it could be done, converted a WinME OEM
machine to a smoothly running W98SE set-up, ergo, I have some clues.
I am also the person who fixes everyone else's problems with their
systems and have not called tech support in 7 years for anything. This
comes from a lot of reading/testing, and, unfortunately formatting and
reinstalling, but, whatever...

Having this knowledge and the ability to fix my own problems, having
never had a virus/worm/trojan, et al, how would you explain to me the
necessity of those ubiquitous MS patches, patches to the patches and the
service packs, and subsequent patches to said service packs? I'm
certainly no IT person, but, I know enough not to d/l or install any of
those for at least 90 days after the date they were issued. Would this
be the problem of the "average" computer user? If the s/w worked OOB,
these "average" people wouldn't have problems that cannot be discerned
by the irritatingly cryptic error messages, one of which I got that
said, to wit: "Some error happened..." No kidding?

Or, how about this? I recently purchased a new Logitech wireless bundle
and switched the old Logitech wireless bundle to another computer. I
uninstalled the old kb/mouse set up on the one computer, hooked up the
standard PS2 set and, before installing actually RTFM. I proceeded with
the install and PFFFTTTT! Nada! Froze me out to the point that I could
not get ANY mouse or k/b to work. Tried for 7 hours on and off to get
into SafeMode, roll back using ERUNT, Recovery Mode, Repair Mode, etc.,
however, one needs the capability of a mouse and/or a keyboard to
highlight and/or click one of the foregoing options. Was that my fault
as an ignorant average user? I think not. I eventually wound up taking
the whole shebang to CompUSA where I purchased it (who, btw were
absolutely wonderful to deal with and did not treat me like a moron,
and, took that POS back, credited the purchase price and gave me a
discount on service), and, somehow, they got a kb/mouse to work after a
day, but, when they finally managed to get into recover mode, the damn
system froze. 4 times! We finally decided the old format/reinstall was
the only way to go. Not being an "average" user, I didn't lose much
since I keep nothing of vital importance on any computer, nonetheless, 3
wasted days over the installation of a Logitech mouse and keyboard?

Some of us know what we're doing but sometimes that simply does not
matter if the s/w is crap, therefore, while I agree that you should have
a basic understanding before getting behind the wheel, even the best IT
people get stumped/screwed when installing s/w and/or MS patches/packs.

End of my $.02

AbByNOrMaL