Installing geniune Office2003 in place of invalid copy.

Well, you might first want to just see if there is the option to change the product ID/Serial number for office.
That way, you wouldn't have to worry about installing/uninstalling. I'm pretty sure there is an option for that somewhere. AND you will probably come out cheaper just buying a license online separately from the software, since the software should be 100% identical (installation CD that is). If you can't find where to change it, you can probably just purchase the valid license/serial code and then call Microsoft, and I'm sure one of their reps would talk you through correcting it. But, I'm also fairly certain there are plenty of online referenes telling how/where to do that.

I would do a couple things. First, contact MSFT and complain. The more they know about shops like the one you purchased from the better off everyone is. That's a bum deal. I'm not sure why it would work and then all of a sudden not work, but if you didn't change anything it sounds like you got the stiff end.

Next I would never just buy a product key and not get the cd, even if it's identical. You've seen how not having a "genuine" CD can affect somebody.

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Regards,
Zack Barresse

The reason I mentioned it would be fine to get just the CD key as apposed to paying for the CD and key again is that given you thought it was genuine as far as you could tell, the liklihood is that the cd IS genuine, but the seller somehow gave you a bogus key/serial.

But whatever you do, it probably wouldn't be a bad idea to contact Microsoft. After all, maybe it wasn't bogus, but something happened on your PC to change the number, or cause an error in the update process. I know that I have had a similar problem with Syamantec Norton SystemWorks on one occasion - the product ID was legit, but I had to call Symantec to get it fixed to tell the software that it was legit.

So, either way, it'd probably be a good idea to call Microsoft.

Forgot one thing: If youg got an invalid key/serial number, that doesn't make the software on the CD invalid. You can have one physical copy of any program (Microsoft or anybody else), and so long as you have 15 serial numbers (that are legit), you can legally install it on 15 machines. That's how large companies install the software accross network domains - one copy located on a server, multiple product keys (or one or more "multi-user" keys).

Thanks for all your advice.

something happened on your PC to change the number, or cause an error in the update process.

Click to expand...

I ran Belarc and it's the one I was given. I also put it in Google and got a couple of thousand hits…

I've not got enough to complete MS's complaint. The shop is now not a computer shop at all, and I can't remember their name or find the receipt or packaging.

I've examined the CD-ROM and it's a dud. A very good copy but a copy, like this..

So I've ordered a new copy from a legit trader.

I'm well jarred off - I thought my PC was free of any dodgy software.

LIVERPOOL FC - FA Cup Winners 2006.
Iechyd da! John
Glannau Mersi, Lloegr.

Assuming you didn't pay cash for it you could always trawl back through your bank statements or credit card statements and get their details from that. That should be enough to at least start a dialog with MS about what has happened.

Regards
Ken...........

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It's easier to beg forgiveness than ask permission
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Sorry to hear of your troubles John. There isn't really much anyone can do for you - that it worked for 18 months before barfing probably rules out any safeguards you may have had. It might be worth ringing MS and explaining your situation, that you had no reasonable way of knowing the software was illegal but that as is has taken them so long to react you are unable to gain any redress from anyone else - you have nothing to lose bar the price of a phone call.

To answer your question, I would uninstall the bad version completely and then install the good but there shouldn't be any need to explicitly save anything unless you have deliberately put user data in, say, an installation folder, in which case you would know that you had done it.

A note for anyone else reading this.

OEM versions of recent versions of Office are licensed only for the hardware they come with (normally a PC) and, to be honest, from what I've seen of the savings (check out a Dell advert, for example) they're hardly worth buying. Any bought from a retailer are likely to be suspect and I am a bit surprised, John, that you were ever able to activate it.

If you buy any software you should check the EULA but, of course, no-one does because you have to wade through tons of legalese. It would be nice if there were a simple statement at the top that said something like "licensed for PC xyz only" or "licensed for three PCs" or some other brief summary (along with a caveat saying to read the restrictions properly) but I doubt that will happen. The trouble with MS genuine holograms and all the rest is that most of us haven't a clue what the genuine article looks like as we only ever see one example.

Enjoy,
Tony

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Thanks, Tony.

I am a bit surprised, John, that you were ever able to activate it.

Click to expand...

If I click on Activate Product… today, the response is "This product has already been activated." So at one time it must have been OK. But the (uninstallable) active X routine will respond with the CD Key being invalid. A lad at work says Microsoft should have a search warrant from the magistrates to check through your licence numbers.

I did some research before ordering a new copy. MS don't actually make it 100% clear what you are buying. I discovered from other sources that OEM versions are all but one-off installations tied to a single system, making it almost impossible to install it on another PC, even if I destroy the first PC before installing on another (new) PC. So I've gone for the Full Retail version so that for when I upgrade or replace my PC I should be OK.

I'll also fully uninstall the current version after backing up data, and install from the new CD as you suggest.

I shall also keep the receipt, packaging and everything else more carefully. Ken, I think I did pay cash. £199 springs to mind.

Looks like I've learned the hard way.

Cheers. John.

LIVERPOOL FC - FA Cup Winners 2006.
Iechyd da! John
Glannau Mersi, Lloegr.

I'm back running with a legit copy.

Interesting point.
I first ran "Save my settings Wizard"
I then uninstalled the original installation of Office 2003 and rebooted. I ran CcLeaner's Registry cleaner and rebooted.
I ran the new Office2003 setup and after some initialisation, defaulted to an upgrade from from a previous version. So clearly there were some critical remnants of the previous install, so I let Setup remove them. There had only ever been Office2003 installed on this system.

Anyway, activation was immediate and I have positively registered this licence with MS. I've also photographed everything and put a copy of the receipt in the box, so if there's any future problems, I have all the evidence.

Thanks for your support.

LIVERPOOL FC - FA Cup Winners 2006.
Iechyd da! John
Glannau Mersi, Lloegr.

Thanks for keeping us all updated on the progress made! I sincerely hope you have much better luck in the future. Take care!

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Regards,
Zack Barresse