Problems converting a trial version

[ah]

My new notebook came with a 60 day trial for Office 2003 Small Business. I
already own a license for Office 2003 Professional. When I tried to convert,
the system refused my product key, perhaps because it is related to a
professional version and not to a small business one. Any help welcome.

 

[JoAnn Paules [MSFT MVP]]

Do you mean you tried to use your product code for the Pro version to open
the Small Business version?

 

[ah]

Not at all. I first activated the product by providing the key I
received with the computer and it worked well. Then I tried to convert
it into a permanent version by providing the key from the product I had
previously purchased and the system refused it.

 

[DL]

If your saying you used key from Office2003 pro then I believe this wont
work. They are two different apps.
Assuming your licence allows a desktop and laptop install I believe you
would have to uninstall SBE prior to installing Pro.

 

[JoAnn Paules [MSFT MVP]]

They are two different programs and your system knows that. Was the copy of
Office that you already own a version that come with another computer or is
it one that you purchased separately?

 

[ah]

This is very annoying because since I bought it, lots of updates have been
released which means that I'll have to re-download them all.

 

[ah]

I purchased it separately.

--
ah

They are two different programs and your system knows that. Was the copy
of Office that you already own a version that come with another computer
or is it one that you purchased separately?

--

JoAnn Paules
MVP Microsoft [Publisher]

Not at all. I first activated the product by providing the key I
received with the computer and it worked well. Then I tried to convert
it into a permanent version by providing the key from the product I had
previously purchased and the system refused it.

 

[DL]

Well as I said they are two different apps

This is very annoying because since I bought it, lots of updates have been
released which means that I'll have to re-download them all.

 

[JoAnn Paules [MSFT MVP]]

Yes, you will. Those updates are on the computer, not the disk.

 

[JoAnn Paules [MSFT MVP]]

That being the case, check your EULA. You may find that you are allowed to
install your copy of Office on your laptop as well as your desktop. You will
have to phone in your activation. And you will still have to download all of
the appropriate updates.

And I'd recommend uninstalling that trial version. Do some homework first.
It seems to me I've read about issues with uninstalling a trial version.

--

JoAnn Paules
MVP Microsoft [Publisher]

I purchased it separately.

--
ah

They are two different programs and your system knows that. Was the copy
of Office that you already own a version that come with another computer
or is it one that you purchased separately?

--

JoAnn Paules
MVP Microsoft [Publisher]

Not at all. I first activated the product by providing the key I
received with the computer and it worked well. Then I tried to convert
it into a permanent version by providing the key from the product I had
previously purchased and the system refused it.

 

[ah]

Of course!!!

--
ah

Yes, you will. Those updates are on the computer, not the disk.

--

JoAnn Paules
MVP Microsoft [Publisher]

 

[ah]

Yes, I had already checked and seen that I could install this product on
both my computers.
This is very bad news indeed.

--
ah

That being the case, check your EULA. You may find that you are allowed to
install your copy of Office on your laptop as well as your desktop. You
will have to phone in your activation. And you will still have to download
all of the appropriate updates.

And I'd recommend uninstalling that trial version. Do some homework first.
It seems to me I've read about issues with uninstalling a trial version.

--

JoAnn Paules
MVP Microsoft [Publisher]

I purchased it separately.

--
ah

They are two different programs and your system knows that. Was the copy
of Office that you already own a version that come with another computer
or is it one that you purchased separately?

--

JoAnn Paules
MVP Microsoft [Publisher]



Not at all. I first activated the product by providing the key I
received with the computer and it worked well. Then I tried to convert
it into a permanent version by providing the key from the product I had
previously purchased and the system refused it.

 

[JoAnn Paules [MSFT MVP]]

Like I said, do your homework. Search the web AND the Microsoft Knowledge
Base. I remember there were issues but it wasn't a lost cause. I think they
may have been "Things to Watch Out For" more then "OH CRAP!!"

--

JoAnn Paules
MVP Microsoft [Publisher]

Yes, I had already checked and seen that I could install this product on
both my computers.
This is very bad news indeed.

--
ah

That being the case, check your EULA. You may find that you are allowed
to install your copy of Office on your laptop as well as your desktop.
You will have to phone in your activation. And you will still have to
download all of the appropriate updates.

And I'd recommend uninstalling that trial version. Do some homework
first. It seems to me I've read about issues with uninstalling a trial
version.

--

JoAnn Paules
MVP Microsoft [Publisher]

I purchased it separately.

--
ah
They are two different programs and your system knows that. Was the
copy of Office that you already own a version that come with another
computer or is it one that you purchased separately?

--

JoAnn Paules
MVP Microsoft [Publisher]



Not at all. I first activated the product by providing the key I
received with the computer and it worked well. Then I tried to
convert
it into a permanent version by providing the key from the product I
had
previously purchased and the system refused it.

 

[ah]

I think that this is a very bad point for Microsoft. Not only do I get an
unwanted version of Office installed on my new computer but now I understand
that I am going to have trouble uninstalling it. I am sorry, but I am very
busy and have no spare time to "do my homework" as you put it. This way
Micro$oft is _forcing_ me to purchase a key for a product (Office small
business) inferior to the one (Office Professional) that I own and have
already paid for and in addition to that I won't be able to use MSAccess
(that I own, part of Office Pro) anymore because it is missing from Office
Small Business that I can not uninstall. This is too much really. Very
upsetting.



Also, purchasing the key online means that I won't have any CD, in case of
problems. And sometimes, when I update my product online, the system asks
me to insert the original CD. I hope that this won't happen with this
version.



Anyway, please do not take this post personally. I know that you are not at
the origin of Microsoft policy. Thank you for your kind help and for
warning me about the possible trouble.
--
ah

Like I said, do your homework. Search the web AND the Microsoft Knowledge
Base. I remember there were issues but it wasn't a lost cause. I think
they may have been "Things to Watch Out For" more then "OH CRAP!!"

--

JoAnn Paules
MVP Microsoft [Publisher]

Yes, I had already checked and seen that I could install this product on
both my computers.

I've read about issues with uninstalling a trial version <<

This is very bad news indeed.

--
ah

That being the case, check your EULA. You may find that you are allowed
to install your copy of Office on your laptop as well as your desktop.
You will have to phone in your activation. And you will still have to
download all of the appropriate updates.

And I'd recommend uninstalling that trial version. Do some homework
first. It seems to me I've read about issues with uninstalling a trial
version.

--

JoAnn Paules
MVP Microsoft [Publisher]



I purchased it separately.

--
ah
They are two different programs and your system knows that. Was the
copy of Office that you already own a version that come with another
computer or is it one that you purchased separately?

--

JoAnn Paules
MVP Microsoft [Publisher]



Not at all. I first activated the product by providing the key I
received with the computer and it worked well. Then I tried to
convert
it into a permanent version by providing the key from the product I
had
previously purchased and the system refused it.

 

[JoAnn Paules [MSFT MVP]]

Your issues are valid - and I think you phrased them quite well. The bad
thing is that your concerns will probably not be noticed here. Since you are
unhappy, let MS know. Things don't change if people don't complain.

--
JoAnn Paules
MVP Microsoft [Publisher]




(snip)

Anyway, please do not take this post personally. I know that you are not
at the origin of Microsoft policy. Thank you for your kind help and for
warning me about the possible trouble.
--
ah

Like I said, do your homework. Search the web AND the Microsoft Knowledge
Base. I remember there were issues but it wasn't a lost cause. I think
they may have been "Things to Watch Out For" more then "OH CRAP!!"

--

JoAnn Paules
MVP Microsoft [Publisher]

Yes, I had already checked and seen that I could install this product on
both my computers.

I've read about issues with uninstalling a trial version <<
This is very bad news indeed.

--
ah
That being the case, check your EULA. You may find that you are allowed
to install your copy of Office on your laptop as well as your desktop.
You will have to phone in your activation. And you will still have to
download all of the appropriate updates.

And I'd recommend uninstalling that trial version. Do some homework
first. It seems to me I've read about issues with uninstalling a trial
version.

--

JoAnn Paules
MVP Microsoft [Publisher]



I purchased it separately.

--
ah
They are two different programs and your system knows that. Was the
copy of Office that you already own a version that come with another
computer or is it one that you purchased separately?

--

JoAnn Paules
MVP Microsoft [Publisher]



Not at all. I first activated the product by providing the key I
received with the computer and it worked well. Then I tried to
convert
it into a permanent version by providing the key from the product I
had
previously purchased and the system refused it.

 

[ah]

let MS know <<

How? MS is a faceless giant for the piece of dust I am and, as I said, I
have not much time to explore the labyrinth.

--
ah

Your issues are valid - and I think you phrased them quite well. The bad
thing is that your concerns will probably not be noticed here. Since you
are unhappy, let MS know. Things don't change if people don't complain.

--
JoAnn Paules
MVP Microsoft [Publisher]




(snip)

Anyway, please do not take this post personally. I know that you are not
at the origin of Microsoft policy. Thank you for your kind help and for
warning me about the possible trouble.
--
ah

Like I said, do your homework. Search the web AND the Microsoft
Knowledge Base. I remember there were issues but it wasn't a lost cause.
I think they may have been "Things to Watch Out For" more then "OH
CRAP!!"

--

JoAnn Paules
MVP Microsoft [Publisher]



Yes, I had already checked and seen that I could install this product
on both my computers.

I've read about issues with uninstalling a trial version <<
This is very bad news indeed.

--
ah
That being the case, check your EULA. You may find that you are
allowed to install your copy of Office on your laptop as well as your
desktop. You will have to phone in your activation. And you will still
have to download all of the appropriate updates.

And I'd recommend uninstalling that trial version. Do some homework
first. It seems to me I've read about issues with uninstalling a trial
version.

--

JoAnn Paules
MVP Microsoft [Publisher]



I purchased it separately.

--
ah
They are two different programs and your system knows that. Was the
copy of Office that you already own a version that come with another
computer or is it one that you purchased separately?

--

JoAnn Paules
MVP Microsoft [Publisher]



"ah" <> wrote in message
Not at all. I first activated the product by providing the key I
received with the computer and it worked well. Then I tried to
convert
it into a permanent version by providing the key from the product I
had
previously purchased and the system refused it.

 

[Echo S]

How? MS is a faceless giant for the piece of dust I am and, as I said, I
have not much time to explore the labyrinth.

I hear you. When I get really frustrated with something in the MSKB, I make
use of the feedback section at the bottom of an individual article to rant
and rave a little.

http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;823570 might be a
good candidate.

 

[ah]

Thank you very much for this. Very helpful.