Works & Word product code issue

Bri

Slight problem.

MS Word and Works came preinstalled on my laptop. It's possible I've never needed to reinstall it till this week...although I don't remember. Either way, after a HD wipe I stick in the CD, copy the product code (directly from the holographic paper) into the boxes...

Low and behold it doesn't work.

What do I do? I've done it repeatedly? The laptop is out of warranty so do I ring Microsoft? I know there's an XP registration 'hotline' but apart from that? :eek:

kaimera

google if it doesn't work for "help"

Bri

Yeah but it's legit. I paid for the stupid thing. Surely there is a proper channel?

Bri

Nice. Compaq want nothing to do with it and MS passed me through 4 times then held me on for about 25mins (mobile) and then disconnected me on the dot of 6pm.

Capt'n Midnight

Are you sure you are using the right product key - the one on the bottom of the laptop is for window. If you wiped without backing up then you know who to blame.

For those who have not painted themselves into a corner yet http://www.magicaljellybean.com/keyfinder.html has a utility to show your current serial numbers for you to write down - though it don't work for Office 2000.

If the version is OEM then microsoft never supported - in fact they no longer allow you to upgrade from it - in which case you are back to compaq/HP and neither they nor microsoft give support after 30days/90days and the maximum you would be entitled to at this stage is either $5 or replacement of the CD (without serial no) or something like that. (on the other hand opensource software generally comes with no refund)

Options:
What product/version is it ?
check the order / with the place you got the laptop from as to the exact version of word/works you got as eg: office 2000 SBE uses a different serial sequence to office 2000 SBE SR1 (CD with hologram)

www.openoffice.org - version 1.1.3 is only 45MB

Maybe it's the wrong Cert ? - on the cert there isa part no/pn/cd set number like X04-000000 - [RANT] how the **** do M$ expect people to be able to work out how many office 95/windows 95 licences they have when they didn't put the product name on the CERT [/RANT] which could identify the product version. Don't post your serial no here and don't expect anyone to give you a serial no !

Bri

Thanks.

I am not to blame don't worry. I have the CD and Cert. of authenticity and I know the difference between XP and Works (every MS phone-support guy asked me that!). No it turns out they gave me the wrong cert...for a different word. And yes it was them not me I've kept everything filed away since the day I got the computer.

Yeah I saw OpenOffice before...but I'd forgotten about it. Off I goes...

Capt'n Midnight

If you have the wrong cert - you just might have got lucky trace back by the product code


Some Product Numbers - matching CERT to CD
Not a complete list but is should give you the feel for product id.s
http://www.emsps.com/oldtools/msoffv.htm
eg: if it starts with 269-xxxxxx then it could be a full version of office.

to word 97 - http://www.emsps.com/oldtools/mswordv.htm

Known CD Labels - when you work back from the CD to the CERT
Office 2003 - http://www.tacktech.com/display.cfm?ttid=336
Windows XP sp1a - http://www.tacktech.com/display.cfm?ttid=312 (see links for other versions of XP

Bri

Cheers Capt'n.