Office not loading

[Beth]

I just bought a compaq that had Office 2003 loaded on it
with Windows XP. When I try to start word they ask for a
product key which I seem to have a sticker for on the
hard drive but when I type it in nothing happens, I don't
have another one in all the paper work I have and the
sticker matches the pic and description I have in the
windows manual I have, why is this not working?

 

[Carey Frisch [MVP]]

Because it's the Product Key for Windows XP and not
Microsoft Office. Look around for the sleeve or packaging
for Microsoft Office and the Product Key should be located
on one of those items.

Or perhaps you were running a "trial version" of Office 2003
and the trial period has lapsed:

HOW TO: Upgrade a Trial Version of Office XP to a Non-Trial Version of Office XP
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;295547&Product=offxp

How to Replace Lost, Broken, or Missing Microsoft Software or Hardware
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;[LN];326246

--
Carey Frisch
Microsoft MVP
Windows XP - Shell/User

Be Smart! Protect your PC!
http://www.microsoft.com/security/protect/

----------------------------------------------------------------------


|I just bought a compaq that had Office 2003 loaded on it
| with Windows XP. When I try to start word they ask for a
| product key which I seem to have a sticker for on the
| hard drive but when I type it in nothing happens, I don't
| have another one in all the paper work I have and the
| sticker matches the pic and description I have in the
| windows manual I have, why is this not working?

 

[Ken Blake, MVP]

In

I just bought a compaq that had Office 2003 loaded on it
with Windows XP. When I try to start word they ask for a
product key which I seem to have a sticker for on the
hard drive

On the "hard drive"? You normally can't even see the hard drive,
since it's inside the case.

Do you mean on the computer case? If so, that's the key for
Windows, not for Office.

You should have an Office Key somewhere on the material you got
from Compaq.

but when I type it in nothing happens, I don't
have another one in all the paper work I have

Then you'll need to contact the vendor who sold it to you and ask
where it is.

 

[NoNoBadDog!]

The key on the side of your machine is for Windows XP, not for Office. The
version of Office that came with your computer was a timed trial OEM
version, and it has expired. In order to continue using it, you must either
buy the retail box version of Office, or contact Microsoft and purchase a
license for the copy you currently have.

Bobby

 

[Gene K]

Beth,
Read the other replies. Understand that if your version of Office 2003 was a
trial timed installation and the time period has expired, the only way you
can regain use of those programs is to purchase one of the Office 2003
Suites AND none are inexpensive. If all you really need is Word, go buy the
Microsoft Works 7.0 package of programs [NOT the Works Suite of programs].
Works 7 has a somewhat smaller version of Word included which should serve
your purposes. The sweet part: the normal retail price of Works 7 is $49.95
with a $15 rebate. Look around on-line and you can see what it contains
besides Word PLUS you probably can find it cheaper.

 

[Wislu Plethora]

-----Original Message-----
Beth,
Read the other replies. Understand that if your version of Office 2003 was a
trial timed installation and the time period has expired, the only way you
can regain use of those programs is to purchase one of the Office 2003
Suites AND none are inexpensive. If all you really need is Word, go buy the
Microsoft Works 7.0 package of programs [NOT the Works Suite of programs].
Works 7 has a somewhat smaller version of Word included which should serve
your purposes. The sweet part: the normal retail price of Works 7 is $49.95
with a $15 rebate. Look around on-line and you can see what it contains
besides Word PLUS you probably can find it cheaper.

Works does *not* include a "smaller" version of Word, you
moron. It does include a basic word processing application,
but it ain't Word. Works Suite, on the other hand, *does*
include a full version of Word.

 

[Tom]

Beth,
Read the other replies. Understand that if your version of Office 2003 was
a
trial timed installation and the time period has expired, the only way you
can regain use of those programs is to purchase one of the Office 2003
Suites AND none are inexpensive. If all you really need is Word, go buy
the
Microsoft Works 7.0 package of programs [NOT the Works Suite of programs].
Works 7 has a somewhat smaller version of Word included which should serve
your purposes. The sweet part: the normal retail price of Works 7 is
$49.95
with a $15 rebate. Look around on-line and you can see what it contains
besides Word PLUS you probably can find it cheaper.

You are wrong, and I suggest you go to Microsoft and look up the
differences. Works Suite versions have *always* included a full version of
Word, whereas the Works versions do not, other than a sinple word processor.
Even then, the newest Works Suite (2004) only has Word 2002 in it, and not
2003. One needs to purchase Word 2003 separately or with one of the Office
2003 setups to get the latest version of Word.

http://www.microsoft.com/products/works/default.asp

One thing nice about Office 2003, is that these versions of Works (back to
6.0) and Work Suites (back to 2001) are eligible to use as upgrades to
Office 2003, where Office XP did not allow those as upgrade qualifications.