Error 1608 - Setup unable to locate valid qualifying product

[Tim]

Hi folks,
What is the deal with this error? I have a machine in an
organization where it was necessary to uninstall office.
I've re-installed with the Office package belonging to
this machine and when I try to open any applications I'm
prompted to enter the product key. I then get prompted
to point to the drive where office is installed and then
I get the above error. I'm wasting far too much time
trying to figure this out and in the meantime am blocking
somebody with very important work to do.

C'mon MS, I realize that product registration is in place
to cut down on piracy, but this office package belongs to
this machine and I need to get it working.
Thanks,
Tim

 

[Susan Ramlet]

Hi, Tim,

This message generally indicates that you are installing an upgrade version
of Office and it cannot find the product that qualifies you to install the
upgrade. What version of Office, and what operating system? Is this an
upgrade copy of Office? Did you obtain it from the original equipment
manufacturer or was it purchased retail? When you re-installed it, how was
that done--via CD, or what? Are you using the product key from the back of
the CD (assuming you're using a CD for the installation)?

When you uninstalled it, were there any odd behaviors? Why did it have to
be uninstalled? Was any other workstation cleanup done at the same time?

 

[Susan Ramlet]

Hi, Tim,

This message generally indicates that you are installing an upgrade version
of Office and it cannot find the product that qualifies you to install the
upgrade. What version of Office, and what operating system? Is this an
upgrade copy of Office? Did you obtain it from the original equipment
manufacturer or was it purchased retail? When you re-installed it, how was
that done--via CD, or what? Are you using the product key from the back of
the CD (assuming you're using a CD for the installation)?

When you uninstalled it, were there any odd behaviors? Why did it have to
be uninstalled? Was any other workstation cleanup done at the same time?

 

[Susan Ramlet]

Hi, Tim,

This message generally indicates that you are installing an upgrade version
of Office and it cannot find the product that qualifies you to install the
upgrade. What version of Office, and what operating system? Is this an
upgrade copy of Office? Did you obtain it from the original equipment
manufacturer or was it purchased retail? When you re-installed it, how was
that done--via CD, or what? Are you using the product key from the back of
the CD (assuming you're using a CD for the installation)?

When you uninstalled it, were there any odd behaviors? Why did it have to
be uninstalled? Was any other workstation cleanup done at the same time?

 

[Susan Ramlet]

Hi, Tim,

This message generally indicates that you are installing an upgrade version
of Office and it cannot find the product that qualifies you to install the
upgrade. What version of Office, and what operating system? Is this an
upgrade copy of Office? Did you obtain it from the original equipment
manufacturer or was it purchased retail? When you re-installed it, how was
that done--via CD, or what? Are you using the product key from the back of
the CD (assuming you're using a CD for the installation)?

When you uninstalled it, were there any odd behaviors? Why did it have to
be uninstalled? Was any other workstation cleanup done at the same time?

 

[Susan Ramlet]

Hi, Tim,

This message generally indicates that you are installing an upgrade version
of Office and it cannot find the product that qualifies you to install the
upgrade. What version of Office, and what operating system? Is this an
upgrade copy of Office? Did you obtain it from the original equipment
manufacturer or was it purchased retail? When you re-installed it, how was
that done--via CD, or what? Are you using the product key from the back of
the CD (assuming you're using a CD for the installation)?

When you uninstalled it, were there any odd behaviors? Why did it have to
be uninstalled? Was any other workstation cleanup done at the same time?

 

[Susan Ramlet]

Hi, Tim,

This message generally indicates that you are installing an upgrade version
of Office and it cannot find the product that qualifies you to install the
upgrade. What version of Office, and what operating system? Is this an
upgrade copy of Office? Did you obtain it from the original equipment
manufacturer or was it purchased retail? When you re-installed it, how was
that done--via CD, or what? Are you using the product key from the back of
the CD (assuming you're using a CD for the installation)?

When you uninstalled it, were there any odd behaviors? Why did it have to
be uninstalled? Was any other workstation cleanup done at the same time?