Can't activate trial version

B

B Bigham

I just bought the trial version of Publisher 2003 and I can't get it to
activate. I've uninstalled it and reinstalled it twice, double checking the
Product Key on the folder, but it keeps telling me that it's an invalid
number. And, of course, there's no "support" provided by Microsoft. This is
VERY frustrating.

Any suggestions? By the way, the "activate by telephone" option isn't
available on the trial, so I can't even call them.

HELP!
 
J

John Inzer

I'm unsure what the exact issue is.

Are you unable to complete the installation
because the program rejects your Product Key?

Or...

Are you able to install and run the program...
but online activation fails?
 
B

B Bigham

I installed it and it seemed to install perfectly. When I try to use it, the
activation window pops up. I attempt to activate via the internet but it
responds with a message that it cannot activate the program because of an
invalid Product Key and says to uninstall and reinstall the program (which
I've done twice already, being VERY careful about the Product Key).

If I cancel the activation process, it blocks most functions of the program.
I can't evaluate the program if I can't activate the trial.

Any ideas?

Barbara
 
A

Amy

Barbara,
I'm having the same problem. I've uninstalled and reinstalled several times
but still no luck. I've been typing the product key in correctly as well. I
am just as frustrated because I need this for a school project. I am hoping
someone on this board can help! Since there's no support I guess I'll have to
cross my fingers that someone can help us out. How do they expect us to
purchase this when the evaluation won't even work!
Am
 
B

B Bigham

Hi, Ed ...

I just bought it via the Microsoft website. I *think* I may have found the
answer:
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/836178

I used to have some version of Office on my computer, with Publisher, but I
uninstalled it. It looks as though something in that original installation
may still be in my registry and is preventing the trial from activating. At
least that's what it sounds like the problem may be. I am not going to start
uninstalling other Office programs just to get this trial to work, so I think
I'll just try a different program.

Thanks for your willingness to help!

Barbara
 
B

B Bigham

Amy ... I found this notice and it *may* be the answer.

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/836178

As I said in my reply to Ed above, the suggestion to uninstall other Office
programs just to get this trial to work is a bit crazy and I doubt if I'll do
it. I will admit, Microsoft really does need to provide better support for
their products, rather than expect customers to hunt down our own answers in
order to buy their programs!

Good luck getting Publisher to work.

Barbara
 
C

Chuck Davis

B Bigham said:
Amy ... I found this notice and it *may* be the answer.

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/836178

As I said in my reply to Ed above, the suggestion to uninstall other
Office
programs just to get this trial to work is a bit crazy and I doubt if I'll
do
it. I will admit, Microsoft really does need to provide better support for
their products, rather than expect customers to hunt down our own answers
in
order to buy their programs!

Good luck getting Publisher to work.

Barbara
Click to expand...

With the millions of trial versions being downloaded, it would make no
economic sense to provide costly support for folks that will complete their
school project and never buy the program. I think it is to their credit that
they even provide trial versions.
 
B

B Bigham

John ...

I will admit, as my eyes get older, the type on these LOONNNNGGG activation
numbers seems to get smaller!<G> I double and tripled checked, though, and I
input the numbers correctly. I know it's not expired because I just paid $4
to get the CD from microsoft. I have so many different versions of Office
floating around on my computer, though, it may very well be the problem (as I
noted in my replies to others here). But I am not going to risk uninstalling
other programs just to get this trial version to work, so I think I'll just
do without it. I really didn't *need* it (how many programs do we really
*need*, right? :)

Anyway, I appreciate your help. The response here has been very gratifying.

Barbara
 
A

Amy

Yes, I ordered to trial version so I could try it out for a school project,
and if I liked it, I was going to order the full version. If I did not like
the trial, I would not purchase the full program. It was not my intent to
just use the trial without considering purchasing it. I have not used
Publisher before and thought I would give the trial a shot for my project.
It's just a little irritating that I paid five bucks for the trial to be
mailed and it doesn't work. I know, not a huge amount of money, but it's just
frustrating. If they provide trial programs, they should work. I did read
somewhere that if you buy the program and do not like it, you can get a full
refund within 30 days. Is that correct? I guess I could just do that if I
can't get the trial to work.
 
B

B Bigham

I'm with you Amy ... if a company sells a product (even if it is a trial
version) they should provide at least some kind of support to get it to work.
Not only is it good customer service, but it's good business.

You give out trials to get people to buy the full version and if people
can't get them to work, they won't buy the actual program. The idea that
potentially good customers should be given short shrift because there are
'bad' people out there is foolish.

If all businesses geared their policies to protecting themselves against the
bad customers, rather than serving the good ones, our economy would suffer.
Come to think of it, that's exactly what HAS happened.

Oh well, I have pumped hundreds of dollars into Microsoft so it's not that
I'm a Microsoft hater, but I get support from other companies even when I
download a trial version of a game!

Barbara
 
A

Amy

Barbara,
It's too bad we can't use our trial versions. Just to let you know, I did
uninstall my Microsoft Office on my computer to see if that's what the
problem was. After I uninstalled it, I tried to install my trial evaluation
again...and it still didn't work. So no luck there. I'm going the public
library to try it out. Guess I should've done that in the first place! Thanks
for your help!
Amy
 
M

Mike Koewler

Amy,

See my reply to Barbara above. PagePlus SE is supported by Serif and its
users and is totally. Yeah, they will send you offers to upgrade in the
future, but you can delete those.

Mike
 
B

B Bigham

Thanks, Mike! I'll definitely check it out. I have a typesetter/designer who
uses Quark to do the 'real' stuff, so I really don't have to have a DTP
program, but it's kind of fun to do layouts and rough mockups. This sounds
like a possible solution for me. I even thought of Ventura, but that's gotten
pricey in recent years.

Barbara
 
M

Mike Koewler

Barbara,
Thanks, Mike! I'll definitely check it out. I have a typesetter/designer who
uses Quark to do the 'real' stuff,
Click to expand...

I've gotta make a point here. I publish a weekly tabloid-size newspaper,
usually 20-24 pages, some of it full color. I use PagePlus to do it. The
current version is PP10, the free version is like PP9 with a few filters
missing - for instance, the real version has a built-in CMYK pdf
creator. I also have Quark 6.0 - I still prefer using PP. Just as
powerful in most areas, but a lot easier to use.

Far too many people still believe that cost = quality. It just ain't true.

Mike
so I really don't have to have a DTP
 
G

Guest

I just posted the same problem! I can't believe you are
having the same problem with activating the trial version.
IT IS VERY FRUSTRATING. Do you think we got scammed and
paid the shipping charges for something that will never
work?
 

Ask a Question

Want to reply to this thread or ask your own question?

You'll need to choose a username for the site, which only take a couple of moments. After that, you can post your question and our members will help you out.

Ask a Question

Similar Threads

Activation of Publisher 2007 Trial 5
O2007 Volume License Key to activate trial version 4
Activation of Home and Student Trial 4
Office 2007 Pro Trial to Boxed Full Version 9
Activating a trial version of Office Standard 2007 1
Activation For Trial Version Problems 2
preinstalled trial version of Office 2007 and no activation key 0
Microsoft 60 Day Trial Key - Activation Assistant not working 3

Top