Office 2010 activation fails after SP2 with error 0x80070190

Anonymous
2013-07-23T21:05:23+00:00

Windows 7 Pro, Office 2010 Pro Plus

I put Office 2010 SP2 on three identically configured machines this morning.  Two of them had previously had Office 2010 activated, the third had not yet been activated.  After SP2 was installed, the two machines with previously-activated versions of Office 2010 continue to work correctly;  the third machine demands that I activate Office - the process appears to run, but then fails with error code 0x80070190.

An initial call to Support yielded a request for me to install Hotfix for Windows KB947821.  That installed correctly, but did not fix the problem.  Before I call back, I thought I would put something out here to see if others have come across this problem.

A Google search on the error code keeps coming up with information implying that this may be related to a Beta status in Office 2010.  Is it possible that today's release of SP2 was not final code?

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
Answer accepted by question author
Anonymous
2013-07-25T16:07:34+00:00

Aha!

I tried using the cscript cmd line process described elsewhere in this thread, and got a new error:

Last 5 characters of installed product key: XXXXX (they matched my MAK key, so the correct product key is already in place)

ERROR CODE: 0xC004F025

ERROR DESCRIPTION: The Software Licensing Service reported that the action requires administrator privilege.

So apparently UAC is getting in the way. 

I found this thread:

http://social.technet.microsoft.com/Forums/windowsserver/en-US/8f2a5c3e-4e33-4fdb-8eb2-760dbeca0713/error0xc004f025-access-denied-the-requested-action-requires-elevated-priviliges

which led me to this post:

http://www.blogsdna.com/2168/windows-7-how-to-open-elevated-command-prompt-with-administrator-privileges.htm

Which FIXED THE PROBLEM!

The remaining question is, Why is UAC suddenly putting itself in charge of activation *after* SP2 when it did not appear to get involved previously?  I made no changes to UAC on any of the machines where SP2 was installed;  I try to avoid touching UAC as much as possible.

Was this answer helpful?

4 people found this answer helpful.
0 comments

77 additional answers

Sort by: Most helpful
Most helpful Newest Oldest
  1. Anonymous
    2014-03-21T21:28:50+00:00

    All you have to do is go to your Office folder in program files, and start Winword.exe with "run as administrator". Activates just fine.

    Wrong. Again...this was one of the many "first" tier suggestions months ago.

    I AM only logged in as administrator on the computer. 

    Not applicable to the issues Ive had...AT ALL.

    I do however thank you kindly for your willingness to try and help.

    Was this answer helpful?

    0 comments
  2. Anonymous
    2014-03-20T15:04:26+00:00

    All you have to do is go to your Office folder in program files, and start Winword.exe with "run as administrator". Activates just fine.

    Was this answer helpful?

    0 comments
  3. Anonymous
    2014-03-10T20:16:53+00:00

    Much easier solution:

    • Open explorer
    • Go to C:\Program Files (x86)\Microsoft Office\Office14
    • Right-click on Outlook.exe and click "Run as Administrator"
    • Activate through internet

    Apparently Windows 7 has a default security setting where software can not execute administrative commands, even though the user is logged in as administrator. You can lower the securitysettings, but then malware can also execute administrative commands which is not what you want as a 'normal' user. For those the above steps are sufficient.

    Best regards.

    These articles on activation issues are a grand waste of time! My Panasonic Toughbook was bought w/preinstalled OF2010Pro_ Windows 7pro

    the OF14 which was NOT a trial- was full retail2 version and was registered and Activated back in 2011. then years later, after trying OF365 (which did NOT work for me-downloaded and uninstalled trial) and updating AVs etc...SUDDENLY Im getting the red bar saying my OF2010 isnt activated.

    I've tried EVERYTHING recommended!! I've re entered the KEY, (the OEM stickers on the bottom of my puter), I've tried to activate by phone..

    it all FAILS!   It seems STUCK on the error..(reviewing event logs...I can go back to successful validation,then the red NOT activated bar remains!)

    I think ever since OF2007 your products are going DOWNHILL. How do I get EVERYTHING EXCEPT my contacts and settings (pst? ost?_)

    Off of my PC so I can do a clean install of OF2007 ultimate? from CD?

    this has taken DAYS, and days of my time!, 

    why would ANYONE pay the money the OEMs charge us for your "full version" products...when they cause this amount of lost time and errors?

    Was this answer helpful?

    0 comments
  4. Anonymous
    2014-03-06T11:08:51+00:00

    Much easier solution:

    • Open explorer
    • Go to C:\Program Files (x86)\Microsoft Office\Office14
    • Right-click on Outlook.exe and click "Run as Administrator"
    • Activate through internet

    Apparently Windows 7 has a default security setting where software can not execute administrative commands, even though the user is logged in as administrator. You can lower the securitysettings, but then malware can also execute administrative commands which is not what you want as a 'normal' user. For those the above steps are sufficient.

    Best regards.

    Was this answer helpful?

    0 comments