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

Locked Question. This question was migrated from the Microsoft Support Community. You can vote on whether it's helpful, but you can't add comments or replies or follow the question.

0 comments No comments
Answer accepted by question author
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.

Was this answer helpful?

50+ people found this answer helpful.
0 comments No comments

82 additional answers

Sort by: Most helpful
  1. Anonymous
    2010-10-05T19:25:24+00:00

    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.

    Was this answer helpful?

    0 comments No comments
  2. Anonymous
    2010-10-04T19:43:55+00:00

    I tried the two scenarios above to get my Microsoft Office Home & Student 2007 to activate with keycode provided with disc and it still will not work.

    It is true that I installed this software on my new PC 2 years later than when I initialled acquired the software through a retailer and I immediately upgraded from vista to Windows 7. How do I get the software activated properly  I'm going to be locked out of Excel shortly.

    Was this answer helpful?

    0 comments No comments
  3. Anonymous
    2010-10-03T21:30:46+00:00

    Could it be a version confilict in the registery?

    Rgds

    Was this answer helpful?

    0 comments No comments
  4. Anonymous
    2010-10-01T22:18:55+00:00

    AM PROUD OF EVERYTHING THAT YOU ARE DOING WITH THE BREAST CANCER AND ABOUT THE BULLYING (A FRIEND SHARED YOUR MESSAGE HERE, ELLEN). I ALREADY SHARED IT.

    WE CAN'T SEE YOUR SHOW IN ARGENTINA SO I KNOW IT THANKS TO FACEBOOK.

    GOD BLESS YOU, MY DEAR FRIEND!!!

    Was this answer helpful?

    0 comments No comments