Receiving an error that my product key is invalid

Anonymous

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.

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Anonymous

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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82 additional answers

Anonymous

2015-04-27T22:33:13+00:00

I didn't get a disc with my computer from my step son. I got the Acer disc that was it. the product key was not part of the original purchase, I know this because I was there when he bought the computer from the rental store straight out. no long term payment plan or anything like that. I need to get the windows word program to work for school. I ahve to have this program for term papers. I used the product key on the modem. As I just said we did not get the windows disc to activate the programs. and your support and help site here has been no help either. the program was a preinstall and it is a windows vista on top of that.
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Anonymous

2015-04-01T05:28:05+00:00

My Computers puts this But the Windows 8.1 Pro Pack Product Key shows:

***product keys removed - NEVER post your product keys online, they will be stolen.

However, I cannot find any Windows 8.1 on my computer.

Am I working with Windows 7 or Windows 8.1 on my Computer???????????

Thank you.

Mike Hallock

***removed PII
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Anonymous

2015-02-16T00:51:42+00:00

I bought a cardboard card with a plastic-coated, credit-card-size card inside. I used the 25-digit number to download the product and experienced no difficulty. When I began to use Word, however, I was ask again to ender my product number. I tried repeatedly, making sure that the number was correct, but each time I was told that my number was invalid.

It's hard for me to believe the number is invalid, since I used it successfully to download the program. Now I would like to use it!

Thanks,

William B. Roberts

**email removed
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Anonymous

2014-10-18T23:13:32+00:00

Thank you for your reply. I ended up spending 4 hours with two different Techs from Microsoft. It was not an easy fix. There were many things involved. But the problem has been resolved.
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