Receiving an error that my product key is invalid

Anonymous
2010-01-18T17:07:08+00:00

My Office program is asking me to enter my product key, and when I do, it keeps giving a message saying that my product key is invalid.  I don’t know what else to do, I’m sure I’m entering the right numbers and letters.

Microsoft 365 and Office | Install, redeem, activate | For home | Windows

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Anonymous
2010-01-18T17:14:38+00:00

Hi Sangeetha

This is a very common question, and the answer is usually one of these two scenarios:

1.       Did you just install Office from a retail box you just purchased?  If so, go to Control Panel, Programs, Programs and Features and see if there is another copy of Office installed besides the suite you just installed.  Some pre-installed Trial Office 2007 suites can conflict with the product key validation process.  If you see a duplicate copy of Office installed, then uninstall it and try to run your new Office program again.  Chances are your product key will work now.

2.       If you are using the 25-digit product key that you found on a sticker on the bottom of your laptop or on the back of your desktop case, then you are using the wrong key.  This key is the product key for the Windows operating system, and NOT for the Office Suite.  The correct product key for the Office suite will be in one of these places:

a.       Inside the retail Office 2007 box (if you bought Office from a retail store)

b.      Inside an e-mail from the online website where you purchased Office

c.       On the outside of the CD case, on a sticker

Microsoft has a knowledge base article that goes into more detail around the invalid product key scenario.  It is located at

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/836178  , and would be a good place to go if these instructions above do not resolve your issue.

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  2. Anonymous
    2010-12-05T20:54:42+00:00

    You could install office 2010 professional plus beta, from the following link:

    http://care.dlservice.microsoft.com/download/office2010/2/4/7/247A463C-AF98-4778-B5A3-934CB8D198D1/ProfessionalPlus.exe?lcid=1033 

    And the office key is on the next link:http://www.microsoft.com/office/2010/en/activation.aspx

    This post would have been useful half a year ago but now the beta has expired.

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  3. Anonymous
    2010-12-03T21:19:14+00:00

    You are using the system whose OS is Windows XP.

    First of all make sure that You have Windows XP SP 3 installed.

    After that download and install Windows Installer Clean up utility and install it after that make sure that there is no application from the following list installed.

    1. Any application that has Microsoft Office in it.
    2. Smiley Central

    3.Outlook Connector

    1. Hotmail Connector

    Once it is done you can try to install office 2010 and hopefully your issue will be fixed. Actually it seems like you have any one of the 2,3 or 4 installed on your system.

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  4. Anonymous
    2010-12-03T10:18:04+00:00

    Hi - I had downloaded a Microsoft 2010 trial version. During the installation process a message pops up that the Product Key is in conflict with a previous trial version's Product Key then it reverses the installation process. This is a problem l'm struggling with for 2 months and none of the technical help l got from Micosoft could solve the problem. Hope you can.   Firstly let me mention that in the Add and Remove Programmes window there is no indication what-so-ever of any Microsoft suites.  I tried to follow your previous answer on a similar question. Go to Control Panel > Programmes > Programmes and Features.  I do not know what omputer you are using (mine is a Sony Vaio laptop) but nowhere in the Control Panel is a heading PROGRAMMES. I checked on my brother's ACER and my fiend's HP and neithe have this.  Maybe I' just stupid - please help.  Andre van Wyk

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