Product key and activation problems in Office 2003

[Andrew Watt [MVP]]

I'm installing a new copy of Student & Teacher Edition (bought at Best Buy)
on a new system and new hard drive. It accepts the product key when I
install, but when I activate automatically, it tells me the activation fails
because the product key is invalid. I have uninstalled via the add/remove
program menu and reinstalled about 5 times, and have had someone else try it
too just in case I can't read. I tried telephone activation but they told me
my activation key was invalid also after several repetitions of the 54 digit
number. What should be my next attempt? I'm down to 35 tries or so to get
it activated. The people at the activation center had no suggestions other
than attempting another uninstall/install cycle.

John,

Is this a brand new system with nothing previously installed? The
problem you describe sometimes occurs when upgrading from a trial
edition.

I would just keep trying to activate automatically. If that works,
then great.( It won't be so time consuming as repeated attempts at
telephone activation.) If not, then take the product back since it's
not working and get a replacement copy. Hoperfully, that should "just
work".

Andrew Watt MVP

 

[Andrew Watt [MVP]]

I'm installing a new copy of Student & Teacher Edition (bought at Best Buy)
on a new system and new hard drive. It accepts the product key when I
install, but when I activate automatically, it tells me the activation fails
because the product key is invalid. I have uninstalled via the add/remove
program menu and reinstalled about 5 times, and have had someone else try it
too just in case I can't read. I tried telephone activation but they told me
my activation key was invalid also after several repetitions of the 54 digit
number. What should be my next attempt? I'm down to 35 tries or so to get
it activated. The people at the activation center had no suggestions other
than attempting another uninstall/install cycle.

John,

Is this a brand new system with nothing previously installed? The
problem you describe sometimes occurs when upgrading from a trial
edition.

I would just keep trying to activate automatically. If that works,
then great.( It won't be so time consuming as repeated attempts at
telephone activation.) If not, then take the product back since it's
not working and get a replacement copy. Hoperfully, that should "just
work".

Andrew Watt MVP

 

[Andrew Watt [MVP]]

I'm installing a new copy of Student & Teacher Edition (bought at Best Buy)
on a new system and new hard drive. It accepts the product key when I
install, but when I activate automatically, it tells me the activation fails
because the product key is invalid. I have uninstalled via the add/remove
program menu and reinstalled about 5 times, and have had someone else try it
too just in case I can't read. I tried telephone activation but they told me
my activation key was invalid also after several repetitions of the 54 digit
number. What should be my next attempt? I'm down to 35 tries or so to get
it activated. The people at the activation center had no suggestions other
than attempting another uninstall/install cycle.

John,

Is this a brand new system with nothing previously installed? The
problem you describe sometimes occurs when upgrading from a trial
edition.

I would just keep trying to activate automatically. If that works,
then great.( It won't be so time consuming as repeated attempts at
telephone activation.) If not, then take the product back since it's
not working and get a replacement copy. Hoperfully, that should "just
work".

Andrew Watt MVP

 

[Andrew Watt [MVP]]

I'm installing a new copy of Student & Teacher Edition (bought at Best Buy)
on a new system and new hard drive. It accepts the product key when I
install, but when I activate automatically, it tells me the activation fails
because the product key is invalid. I have uninstalled via the add/remove
program menu and reinstalled about 5 times, and have had someone else try it
too just in case I can't read. I tried telephone activation but they told me
my activation key was invalid also after several repetitions of the 54 digit
number. What should be my next attempt? I'm down to 35 tries or so to get
it activated. The people at the activation center had no suggestions other
than attempting another uninstall/install cycle.

John,

Is this a brand new system with nothing previously installed? The
problem you describe sometimes occurs when upgrading from a trial
edition.

I would just keep trying to activate automatically. If that works,
then great.( It won't be so time consuming as repeated attempts at
telephone activation.) If not, then take the product back since it's
not working and get a replacement copy. Hoperfully, that should "just
work".

Andrew Watt MVP

 

[Andrew Watt [MVP]]

I'm installing a new copy of Student & Teacher Edition (bought at Best Buy)
on a new system and new hard drive. It accepts the product key when I
install, but when I activate automatically, it tells me the activation fails
because the product key is invalid. I have uninstalled via the add/remove
program menu and reinstalled about 5 times, and have had someone else try it
too just in case I can't read. I tried telephone activation but they told me
my activation key was invalid also after several repetitions of the 54 digit
number. What should be my next attempt? I'm down to 35 tries or so to get
it activated. The people at the activation center had no suggestions other
than attempting another uninstall/install cycle.

John,

Is this a brand new system with nothing previously installed? The
problem you describe sometimes occurs when upgrading from a trial
edition.

I would just keep trying to activate automatically. If that works,
then great.( It won't be so time consuming as repeated attempts at
telephone activation.) If not, then take the product back since it's
not working and get a replacement copy. Hoperfully, that should "just
work".

Andrew Watt MVP

 

[John Brock]

--
John

Is this a brand new system with nothing previously installed? The
problem you describe sometimes occurs when upgrading from a trial
edition.

Brand new, Andrew. The first time I installed, I did not get the product
key invalid, although the automatic activation failed. That time when I
called in, they told me the activation server was down for unscheduled
maintenence and to call back, which was Tuesday. Wednesday the activation
started returning the message my product key was invalid and to re-install.
I'll follow your exchange advice, everyone says 'this should just work
automatically' but it does not.

 

[John Brock]

--
John

Is this a brand new system with nothing previously installed? The
problem you describe sometimes occurs when upgrading from a trial
edition.

Brand new, Andrew. The first time I installed, I did not get the product
key invalid, although the automatic activation failed. That time when I
called in, they told me the activation server was down for unscheduled
maintenence and to call back, which was Tuesday. Wednesday the activation
started returning the message my product key was invalid and to re-install.
I'll follow your exchange advice, everyone says 'this should just work
automatically' but it does not.

 

[John Brock]

--
John

Is this a brand new system with nothing previously installed? The
problem you describe sometimes occurs when upgrading from a trial
edition.

Brand new, Andrew. The first time I installed, I did not get the product
key invalid, although the automatic activation failed. That time when I
called in, they told me the activation server was down for unscheduled
maintenence and to call back, which was Tuesday. Wednesday the activation
started returning the message my product key was invalid and to re-install.
I'll follow your exchange advice, everyone says 'this should just work
automatically' but it does not.

 

[John Brock]

--
John

Is this a brand new system with nothing previously installed? The
problem you describe sometimes occurs when upgrading from a trial
edition.

Brand new, Andrew. The first time I installed, I did not get the product
key invalid, although the automatic activation failed. That time when I
called in, they told me the activation server was down for unscheduled
maintenence and to call back, which was Tuesday. Wednesday the activation
started returning the message my product key was invalid and to re-install.
I'll follow your exchange advice, everyone says 'this should just work
automatically' but it does not.

 

[John Brock]

--
John

Is this a brand new system with nothing previously installed? The
problem you describe sometimes occurs when upgrading from a trial
edition.

Brand new, Andrew. The first time I installed, I did not get the product
key invalid, although the automatic activation failed. That time when I
called in, they told me the activation server was down for unscheduled
maintenence and to call back, which was Tuesday. Wednesday the activation
started returning the message my product key was invalid and to re-install.
I'll follow your exchange advice, everyone says 'this should just work
automatically' but it does not.

 

[John Brock]

--
John

Is this a brand new system with nothing previously installed? The
problem you describe sometimes occurs when upgrading from a trial
edition.

Brand new, Andrew. The first time I installed, I did not get the product
key invalid, although the automatic activation failed. That time when I
called in, they told me the activation server was down for unscheduled
maintenence and to call back, which was Tuesday. Wednesday the activation
started returning the message my product key was invalid and to re-install.
I'll follow your exchange advice, everyone says 'this should just work
automatically' but it does not.

 

[John Brock]

--
John

Is this a brand new system with nothing previously installed? The
problem you describe sometimes occurs when upgrading from a trial
edition.

Brand new, Andrew. The first time I installed, I did not get the product
key invalid, although the automatic activation failed. That time when I
called in, they told me the activation server was down for unscheduled
maintenence and to call back, which was Tuesday. Wednesday the activation
started returning the message my product key was invalid and to re-install.
I'll follow your exchange advice, everyone says 'this should just work
automatically' but it does not.

 

[John Brock]

--
John

Is this a brand new system with nothing previously installed? The
problem you describe sometimes occurs when upgrading from a trial
edition.

Brand new, Andrew. The first time I installed, I did not get the product
key invalid, although the automatic activation failed. That time when I
called in, they told me the activation server was down for unscheduled
maintenence and to call back, which was Tuesday. Wednesday the activation
started returning the message my product key was invalid and to re-install.
I'll follow your exchange advice, everyone says 'this should just work
automatically' but it does not.

 

[JoAnn Paules [MVP]]

I did use it once. I don't remember anything that long.

--

JoAnn Paules
MVP Microsoft [Publisher]

 

[JoAnn Paules [MVP]]

I did use it once. I don't remember anything that long.

--

JoAnn Paules
MVP Microsoft [Publisher]

 

[JoAnn Paules [MVP]]

I did use it once. I don't remember anything that long.

--

JoAnn Paules
MVP Microsoft [Publisher]

 

[JoAnn Paules [MVP]]

I did use it once. I don't remember anything that long.

--

JoAnn Paules
MVP Microsoft [Publisher]

 

[JoAnn Paules [MVP]]

I did use it once. I don't remember anything that long.

--

JoAnn Paules
MVP Microsoft [Publisher]

 

[JoAnn Paules [MVP]]

I did use it once. I don't remember anything that long.

--

JoAnn Paules
MVP Microsoft [Publisher]

 

[JoAnn Paules [MVP]]

I did use it once. I don't remember anything that long.

--

JoAnn Paules
MVP Microsoft [Publisher]