Microsoft office

dusterd

I recently boght an older laptop that had windows vista installed. I upgraded the Hard drive and Ram. I had Vista re-installed and the computer is working great.

My question is that since this machine had microsoft office installed on it (it's not on it now since re-installation) Can I download office and use the the original licence. I dont know what that licence key is either.

I really have no intention to pay for it since it was already paid for.

Dusterd.

GarIT

If you have the original licence key you can use it. If you dont have the key you can't use it. Simples

dusterd

Is this at the bottom of the laptop printed on a sticker?

demanufactured

No thats the windows vista key

demanufactured

No thats the windows vista key

dusterd

Where would I find the Key for MS office?

Adyx

Do you still have the original hard drive and is everything still on it?

Plates

The info at the link below might be helpful:

http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb%3Ben%2Dus%3B823570

dilallio

Do you still have the old drive?

The easiest way when upgrading a drive is to use something like Acronis True Image to clone the existing drive to the new one. It will copy everything including Operating System, Applications, and User Files. No need to reinstall windows, apps or any windows updates which can take ages.

If you use this now however, it will replace everything on the new drive with everything from the old drive.

bonzodog2

There is an app whose name escapes me (sorry!) that can retrieve license keys from disks. Perhaps if another poster remembers the name the OP could use this on the old disk.

dusterd

Adyx wrote: »

Do you still have the original hard drive and is everything still on it?

I have the original hard drive but it was re-formatted during re-installation of vista. Nothing that was on the machine prior to re-installation remains on it now. It's a vista 32 bit system. I really don't know if licence keys can be retrieved after re-instalation of the OS.

dusterd

Plates wrote: »

The info at the link below might be helpful:

http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb%3Ben%2Dus%3B823570

This was most helpful. Thanks ever so much. It appears I wont be getting MS office. This is what they say:
If Office came preinstalled on your computer when you bought it, you likely have an OEM product. Microsoft Customer Service will be unable to offer a replacement product key. We recommend that you contact your computer manufacturer for more help.
That's like saying "we're sorry sir, but since you changed the engine in your car, We can no longer allow you to drive it on the road."

Thanks for all the help guys.

Dusterd.:mad:

yoyo

dusterd wrote: »

This was most helpful. Thanks ever so much. It appears I wont be getting MS office. This is what they say:
If Office came preinstalled on your computer when you bought it, you likely have an OEM product. Microsoft Customer Service will be unable to offer a replacement product key. We recommend that you contact your computer manufacturer for more help.
That's like saying "we're sorry sir, but since you changed the engine in your car, We can no longer allow you to drive it on the road."

Thanks for all the help guys.

Dusterd.:mad:

If you purchased an Office license with your computer you should have received a COA (Cert of authenticity) either a Card with serial on it or some kind of license parchment with it.
Where did you buy the machine? They are the ones that should be able assist you, if you lost the license then they'll likely blame you, but if it didn't come with a license either they made a mistake or sold you a machine without a genuine copy of Office, contact them again anyways see what they say

Nick

monkeypants

bonzodog2 wrote: »

There is an app whose name escapes me (sorry!) that can retrieve license keys from disks. Perhaps if another poster remembers the name the OP could use this on the old disk.

It's called Jellybean keyfinder or something like that and it will retrieve the key for you, but it would appear that he's just wiped the hard disk, so no help there.

dusterd

Lads, this is an Acer laptop. Do you think there is any point in getting on the phone to them and asking for a licence key for MS office?

yoyo

dusterd wrote: »

Lads, this is an Acer laptop. Do you think there is any point in getting on the phone to them and asking for a licence key for MS office?

They won't give it, if you had the key they may send you installation media, for a fee. Thats really it. Try Libre Office or Open Office as alternatives

Nick

dusterd

I'm using Open Office at the minute. It doesn't seem too bad at all.