XP Key Authentication disabled Office 2003

[Mark]

Yesterday I downloaded this update from Microsoft's Download Center:

http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/...0f-bca4-4a2a-9cde-dfe2da16672a&DisplayLang=en

where I had go through authenticating my XP Pro SP2 version. The file downloaded without any problem.

However, after doing the XP key authentication, this processed disabled the product activation for Office 2003 that had been running fine in XP Pro SP2. When Office 2003 prompts me to activate, it only provides the telephone option. I contacted Microsoft at the 888 number, provided them the key present in the window, and they told me that I need to buy a new Office 2003 license with no reason provided why I need to buy a new Office 2003 license.

My Office 2003 license worked fine in XP Pro SP2 until I had to authenticate my XP key.

Any ideas on how to re-activate Office 2003? I need to work on some documents (Word, Excel) that I have been creating.

This is a retailed purchased Office 2003 Standard version.

 

[Alias]

Makes you feel like MS is ripping you off, doesn't it? Highway robbery come
to mind?

Alias


Yesterday I downloaded this update from Microsoft's Download Center:

http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/...0f-bca4-4a2a-9cde-dfe2da16672a&DisplayLang=en

where I had go through authenticating my XP Pro SP2 version. The file
downloaded without any problem.

However, after doing the XP key authentication, this processed disabled the
product activation for Office 2003 that had been running fine in XP Pro SP2.
When Office 2003 prompts me to activate, it only provides the telephone
option. I contacted Microsoft at the 888 number, provided them the key
present in the window, and they told me that I need to buy a new Office 2003
license with no reason provided why I need to buy a new Office 2003 license.

My Office 2003 license worked fine in XP Pro SP2 until I had to authenticate
my XP key.

Any ideas on how to re-activate Office 2003? I need to work on some
documents (Word, Excel) that I have been creating.

This is a retailed purchased Office 2003 Standard version.

 

[Steve N.]

Yesterday I downloaded this update from Microsoft's Download Center:

http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/...0f-bca4-4a2a-9cde-dfe2da16672a&DisplayLang=en
<http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/...0f-bca4-4a2a-9cde-dfe2da16672a&DisplayLang=en>

where I had go through authenticating my XP Pro SP2 version. The file
downloaded without any problem.

Authentication is not manditory (at least not yet), although the MS
download pages try to fool you into believing it is. Apparently they
succeded in your case.

However, after doing the XP key authentication, this processed disabled
the product activation for Office 2003 that had been running fine in XP
Pro SP2. When Office 2003 prompts me to activate, it only provides the
telephone option. I contacted Microsoft at the 888 number, provided
them the key present in the window, and they told me that I need to buy
a new Office 2003 license with no reason provided why I need to buy a
new Office 2003 license.

They've been trained to tell you that.

My Office 2003 license worked fine in XP Pro SP2 until I had to
authenticate my XP key.

Any ideas on how to re-activate Office 2003? I need to work on some
documents (Word, Excel) that I have been creating.

This is a retailed purchased Office 2003 Standard version.

Do you have your receipt of purchasing Office 2003? Where did you buy it
from? If you have proof that it was a legitimate purchase then call them
back again and ask to talk to a supervisor.

Steve

 

[Mark]

I read that if you authenticate your XP key, your downloads are faster than normal as the file downloads from another set of servers. That is why I authenticated my XP key.

I purchased Office 2003 from Best Buy about six months ago. I told Microsoft that I have the receipt and could fax it to them. They told me that is not enough proof that Office 2003 is my copy.

I searched the Internet for an Office 2003 crack just so I can get my work done in Word and Excel, but I have not found one yet. Seems like Microsoft promotes software piracy when this type of situation occurs. This also positive promotes open-source software, such as OpenOffice, where you can download and use the product without worrying about product activation problems.

Yesterday I downloaded this update from Microsoft's Download Center:

http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/...0f-bca4-4a2a-9cde-dfe2da16672a&DisplayLang=en
<http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/...0f-bca4-4a2a-9cde-dfe2da16672a&DisplayLang=en>

where I had go through authenticating my XP Pro SP2 version. The file
downloaded without any problem.

Authentication is not manditory (at least not yet), although the MS
download pages try to fool you into believing it is. Apparently they
succeded in your case.

However, after doing the XP key authentication, this processed disabled
the product activation for Office 2003 that had been running fine in XP
Pro SP2. When Office 2003 prompts me to activate, it only provides the
telephone option. I contacted Microsoft at the 888 number, provided
them the key present in the window, and they told me that I need to buy
a new Office 2003 license with no reason provided why I need to buy a
new Office 2003 license.

They've been trained to tell you that.

My Office 2003 license worked fine in XP Pro SP2 until I had to
authenticate my XP key.

Any ideas on how to re-activate Office 2003? I need to work on some
documents (Word, Excel) that I have been creating.

This is a retailed purchased Office 2003 Standard version.

Do you have your receipt of purchasing Office 2003? Where did you buy it
from? If you have proof that it was a legitimate purchase then call them
back again and ask to talk to a supervisor.

Steve

 

[Mark]

This is why I am starting not to buy software products that uses product activation methods. These anti-piracy methods can turn in to anti-software.


Makes you feel like MS is ripping you off, doesn't it? Highway robbery come
to mind?

Alias


Yesterday I downloaded this update from Microsoft's Download Center:

http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/...0f-bca4-4a2a-9cde-dfe2da16672a&DisplayLang=en

where I had go through authenticating my XP Pro SP2 version. The file
downloaded without any problem.

However, after doing the XP key authentication, this processed disabled the
product activation for Office 2003 that had been running fine in XP Pro SP2.
When Office 2003 prompts me to activate, it only provides the telephone
option. I contacted Microsoft at the 888 number, provided them the key
present in the window, and they told me that I need to buy a new Office 2003
license with no reason provided why I need to buy a new Office 2003 license.

My Office 2003 license worked fine in XP Pro SP2 until I had to authenticate
my XP key.

Any ideas on how to re-activate Office 2003? I need to work on some
documents (Word, Excel) that I have been creating.

This is a retailed purchased Office 2003 Standard version.

 

[Steve N.]

I read that if you authenticate your XP key, your downloads are faster
than normal as the file downloads from another set of servers. That is
why I authenticated my XP key.

What you read was misleading. The download doesn't actually procede any
faster, you just don't get presented with the misleading BS on the MS
download site again so you save a couple of clicks is all.

I purchased Office 2003 from Best Buy about six months ago. I told
Microsoft that I have the receipt and could fax it to them. They told
me that is not enough proof that Office 2003 is my copy.

A receipt is proof enough in a court of law and for anyone else in this
world. Call them back and talk to a supervisor, like I said before. If
they still won't honor you then return to Best Buy with your copy of
Office and your receipt and explain the situation, they may give you a
replacement for your copy/license of Office since this one apparently
has an invalid key.

I searched the Internet for an Office 2003 crack just so I can get my
work done in Word and Excel, but I have not found one yet. Seems like
Microsoft promotes software piracy when this type of situation occurs.
This also positive promotes open-source software, such as OpenOffice,
where you can download and use the product without worrying about
product activation problems.

A crack may cause you even more problems. They often include viruses and
trojans. I would not pursue that route if I were you, it's too easy to
get infected, even by simply clicking on a link to a crack site.

Another alternative is getting Open Office, it's free, requires no
activation and is 90% compatible with MS Office files. The only things
I've seen glitch up are some forms and tables made in Word and some
Excel macros but usually these can be overcome with a bit of work.

Yet another alternative would be to get a copy of Office 2000 and use it
instead. It does not require activation and is fully compatible with all
other MS Office versions that I've seen. If you go this route make sure
to completely uninstall Office 2003 first, either that or install it to
a different directory. Personally, I prefer using Office 2000 anyway.

Steve

 

[Al Smith]

This is why I am starting not to buy software products that uses product activation methods. These anti-piracy methods can turn in to anti-software.

THAT is the message to take away from this sordid little
experience. Never buy software that requires any kind of product
activation over the phone or Internet.

I'm using Office 2000 and do not intend to upgrade, simply because
later versions of Office require activation. If I need to move to
something else, it will be Open Office. With Windows XP itself,
product activation is not a problem for me, because I simply won't
do it. If I had to activate, I'd either switch to Linux or Apple,
permanently.

Product activation is the work of the Devil. Spread the word.

 

[kurttrail]

What you read was misleading. The download doesn't actually procede
any faster, you just don't get presented with the misleading BS on
the MS download site again so you save a couple of clicks is all.

Yeah MS intentionally slowed down the downloading process to be able to
claim that Validation would speed up the download process!

All that validating does is get you almost back to the speed of
downloading before MS implemented WGA. Almost, because the ActiveX
component need to communicate with MS's servers inorder not to nag you
to validated, and depending on network traffic that communication can be
noticable.

A receipt is proof enough in a court of law and for anyone else in
this world. Call them back and talk to a supervisor, like I said
before. If they still won't honor you then return to Best Buy with
your copy of Office and your receipt and explain the situation, they
may give you a replacement for your copy/license of Office since this
one apparently has an invalid key.


A crack may cause you even more problems. They often include viruses
and trojans. I would not pursue that route if I were you, it's too
easy to get infected, even by simply clicking on a link to a crack
site.
Another alternative is getting Open Office, it's free, requires no
activation and is 90% compatible with MS Office files. The only things
I've seen glitch up are some forms and tables made in Word and some
Excel macros but usually these can be overcome with a bit of work.

Yet another alternative would be to get a copy of Office 2000 and use
it instead. It does not require activation and is fully compatible
with all other MS Office versions that I've seen. If you go this
route make sure to completely uninstall Office 2003 first, either
that or install it to a different directory. Personally, I prefer
using Office 2000 anyway.

Find a friend with an RTM copy of MSO2K. The SP1a CD need to be
activated, IIRC.

--
Peace!
Kurt
Self-anointed Moderator
microscum.pubic.windowsexp.gonorrhea
http://microscum.com/mscommunity
"Trustworthy Computing" is only another example of an Oxymoron!
"Produkt-Aktivierung macht frei"

 

[Leythos]

I purchased Office 2003 from Best Buy about six months ago.
I told Microsoft that I have the receipt and could fax it to them.
They told me that is not enough proof that Office 2003 is my copy.

So, uninstall MS Office 2003 and reboot, then reinstall it.

I've not had any issues with legit copies of Office 2003 on any machine
(hundreds of them) with the authentication process, but if I had a
problem I would just uninstall and then reinstall and if that didn't
work I would contact MS Support, not the activation line.

 

[Mark]

I found my Office 2000 Pro CD, but I may not install it. Once I find a way to completely remove Office 2003, I will be switching to OpenOffice 1.1.4 and probably use 1.9.100 (Beta 2.0).

Microsoft's Product Activation in software I have avoided and continued to avoid at all possibility. This is why I have no upgraded from Norton AntiVIrus 2004 to 2005.

I only use Outlook Express 6 for Microsoft's newsgroups, but use Mozilla Thunderbird for e-mail and newsgroups.

With Longhorn's anti-piracy and Big Brother Security, I see no reason to pursue Windows and need to find another operating system platform to use, such as Apple's Mac OS X. Although Apple's hardware is a little higher priced, you get a quality system from Apple.

This is why I am starting not to buy software products that uses product activation methods. These anti-piracy methods can turn in to anti-software.

THAT is the message to take away from this sordid little
experience. Never buy software that requires any kind of product
activation over the phone or Internet.

I'm using Office 2000 and do not intend to upgrade, simply because
later versions of Office require activation. If I need to move to
something else, it will be Open Office. With Windows XP itself,
product activation is not a problem for me, because I simply won't
do it. If I had to activate, I'd either switch to Linux or Apple,
permanently.

Product activation is the work of the Devil. Spread the word.

 

[Mark]

Better yet, switch to OpenOffice.org. I noticed a trend lately of Windows users using OpenOffice over M$ Office. I know OpenOffice runs faster and its more reliable than M$ Office.

What you read was misleading. The download doesn't actually procede
any faster, you just don't get presented with the misleading BS on
the MS download site again so you save a couple of clicks is all.

Yeah MS intentionally slowed down the downloading process to be able to
claim that Validation would speed up the download process!

All that validating does is get you almost back to the speed of
downloading before MS implemented WGA. Almost, because the ActiveX
component need to communicate with MS's servers inorder not to nag you
to validated, and depending on network traffic that communication can be
noticable.

A receipt is proof enough in a court of law and for anyone else in
this world. Call them back and talk to a supervisor, like I said
before. If they still won't honor you then return to Best Buy with
your copy of Office and your receipt and explain the situation, they
may give you a replacement for your copy/license of Office since this
one apparently has an invalid key.


A crack may cause you even more problems. They often include viruses
and trojans. I would not pursue that route if I were you, it's too
easy to get infected, even by simply clicking on a link to a crack
site.
Another alternative is getting Open Office, it's free, requires no
activation and is 90% compatible with MS Office files. The only things
I've seen glitch up are some forms and tables made in Word and some
Excel macros but usually these can be overcome with a bit of work.

Yet another alternative would be to get a copy of Office 2000 and use
it instead. It does not require activation and is fully compatible
with all other MS Office versions that I've seen. If you go this
route make sure to completely uninstall Office 2003 first, either
that or install it to a different directory. Personally, I prefer
using Office 2000 anyway.

Find a friend with an RTM copy of MSO2K. The SP1a CD need to be
activated, IIRC.

--
Peace!
Kurt
Self-anointed Moderator
microscum.pubic.windowsexp.gonorrhea
http://microscum.com/mscommunity
"Trustworthy Computing" is only another example of an Oxymoron!
"Produkt-Aktivierung macht frei"

 

[kurttrail]

Better yet, switch to OpenOffice.org. I noticed a trend lately of
Windows users using OpenOffice over M$ Office. I know OpenOffice
runs faster and its more reliable than M$ Office.

I run both and see little difference between the two when it comes to
speed.

And OO is generating some wrath among the Open Source community with it
increasing reliance on Java, which is not Open Source code.

But I'd have no real problem relying soley on OO

message

Yeah MS intentionally slowed down the downloading process to be
able to
claim that Validation would speed up the download process!

All that validating does is get you almost back to the speed of
downloading before MS implemented WGA. Almost, because the ActiveX
component need to communicate with MS's servers inorder not to nag
you
to validated, and depending on network traffic that communication
can be
noticable.


Find a friend with an RTM copy of MSO2K. The SP1a CD need to be
activated, IIRC.

--
Peace!
Kurt
Self-anointed Moderator
microscum.pubic.windowsexp.gonorrhea
http://microscum.com/mscommunity
"Trustworthy Computing" is only another example of an Oxymoron!
"Produkt-Aktivierung macht frei"

--
Peace!
Kurt
Self-anointed Moderator
microscum.pubic.windowsexp.gonorrhea
http://microscum.com/mscommunity
"Trustworthy Computing" is only another example of an Oxymoron!
"Produkt-Aktivierung macht frei"

 

[kurttrail]

So, uninstall MS Office 2003 and reboot, then reinstall it.

I've not had any issues with legit copies of Office 2003 on any
machine (hundreds of them) with the authentication process, but if I
had a problem I would just uninstall and then reinstall and if that
didn't work I would contact MS Support, not the activation line.

Just because you haven't come acros any problems doesn't mean the OPs
problem isn't legit or that his software isn't legit.

The "it works for me" crap is just that!

--
Peace!
Kurt
Self-anointed Moderator
microscum.pubic.windowsexp.gonorrhea
http://microscum.com/mscommunity
"Trustworthy Computing" is only another example of an Oxymoron!
"Produkt-Aktivierung macht frei"

 

[Leythos]

Just because you haven't come acros any problems doesn't mean the OPs
problem isn't legit or that his software isn't legit.

The "it works for me" crap is just that!

And at no point in my reply did I dismiss his problems. In fact, I
offered a possible solution of uninstalling O2003 and rebooting, then
reinstalling it. You read something into my reply that was not there
Kurt.

 

[kurttrail]

And at no point in my reply did I dismiss his problems.

And I didn't say you did. I meant that the "it works for me" reply is
just full of sh*t!

In fact, I
offered a possible solution of uninstalling O2003 and rebooting, then
reinstalling it. You read something into my reply that was not there
Kurt.

The "It works for me" reply is meaningful to only one person, the person
saying that "It works for me." It means nothing to the person that is
actually having the problem.

--
Peace!
Kurt
Self-anointed Moderator
microscum.pubic.windowsexp.gonorrhea
http://microscum.com/mscommunity
"Trustworthy Computing" is only another example of an Oxymoron!
"Produkt-Aktivierung macht frei"

 

[Leythos]

And I didn't say you did. I meant that the "it works for me" reply is
just full of sh*t!


The "It works for me" reply is meaningful to only one person, the person
saying that "It works for me." It means nothing to the person that is
actually having the problem.

Actually, the "It works for me" information is a valid response when it
give information that something IS possible on a variety of systems. A
typical scenario, involving many workstations of different types running
the same Windows XP and Office 2003 working gives a person a reason to
look at more than just XP/O2003 - it could be a number of things, and
eliminating the base OS/App is a good place to start.

In this case, we didn't know that the O2003 package was legit before I
posted (at least I didn't see it) and we didn't no much other than it
failed after WGA was tested.

A basic troubleshooting process starts with, does it work anywhere else.

 

[kurttrail]

Actually, the "It works for me" information is a valid response when
it give information that something IS possible on a variety of
systems. A typical scenario, involving many workstations of different
types running the same Windows XP and Office 2003 working gives a
person a reason to look at more than just XP/O2003 - it could be a
number of things, and eliminating the base OS/App is a good place to
start.

No, it is a sh*tty place to start. Expecially for the person having the
problem. Put yourself in their shoes, and walk a mile, and then tell me
that it is a good place to start.

In this case, we didn't know that the O2003 package was legit before I
posted (at least I didn't see it) and we didn't no much other than it
failed after WGA was tested.

A basic troubleshooting process starts with, does it work anywhere
else.

I assume that the person is honest until proven otherwise, especially
when it comes to dealing with problems that wouldn't exist is MS
actually cared about its paying customers and never introduced
copy-protection. Since these copy-protection problems are the result of
the greed of the biggest corporate patent and copyright infringer, I
believe the PEOPLE over the code that assumes that PEOPLE are guilty
until proven otherwise!

You can assume that PEOPLE are guilty until proven otherwise, that is
your right, but that just shows that you rather believe technology over
PEOPLE!

--
Peace!
Kurt
Self-anointed Moderator
microscum.pubic.windowsexp.gonorrhea
http://microscum.com/mscommunity
"Trustworthy Computing" is only another example of an Oxymoron!
"Produkt-Aktivierung macht frei"

 

[Curmudgeon]

I already tried reinstalling Office 2003. When I did
that, Office prompted to activate via telephone only.

Got a freakin' telephone handy????

 

[Leythos]

No, it is a sh*tty place to start. Expecially for the person having the
problem. Put yourself in their shoes, and walk a mile, and then tell me
that it is a good place to start.

Kurt, I've been troubleshooting all sorts of technical problems since
the 70's and when working with something new, as it appeared the OP was,
it's always good to know if others are experiencing the same problem.
I've seen very few posts describing the same problem that the OP stated,
with his specifics, and did more than just say "it worked for me".

I gave information on how I've tested and seen it work on hundreds of
computers and then, so as to not just be a "it worked for me" I also
presented him with what I would try first, since he had not already
posted that he tried my corrective action.

Don't be so negative all the time, when dealing with the unknown it's
good to start at step 1, not at step 30.

 

[Leythos]

I assume that the person is honest until proven otherwise, especially
when it comes to dealing with problems that wouldn't exist is MS
actually cared about its paying customers and never introduced
copy-protection. Since these copy-protection problems are the result of
the greed of the biggest corporate patent and copyright infringer, I
believe the PEOPLE over the code that assumes that PEOPLE are guilty
until proven otherwise!

You can assume that PEOPLE are guilty until proven otherwise, that is
your right, but that just shows that you rather believe technology over
PEOPLE!

I felt that I would address this separately. I made no assumptions about
the poster or any other reply to him.

Since none of our legit systems have failed the WGA I would expect many
different possible problems, pirated software being a possibility, but
certainly not the only possibility.

Many things, like AV software, custom applications, installations that
didn't complete properly, re-using keys, etc...

I don't take sides in why or how MS implements it's protection
mechanisms and it doesn't seem to impact me or my customers. If it was
as much a problem as you want it to be, we would stop using MS
Applications, but so far it's been painless for us.