Lost key for MS Office 2010..ideas?

Hi all,

Had to have a complete reinstall of Windows recently. When I got my PC back I opened up an excel spreadsheet as per norm and got the request to enter a key.

I cannot remember purchasing MS 2010, but I must have when I bought the PC (there isn't a sticker for it on the machine). In either case I am without the disc or the key.

I'm unsure what to do next - can I simply buy another 'key' to activate it? Do I need to buy the disk as well (which is far more expensive). I'm also curious as to how they reinstalled it (bit of a moot point though).

In addition I've read about software you can download that finds the key for you. I'm very wary of this.

Any ideas or opinions welcome as ever.

1. You may have had a trial version of MS Office.

2. If it was the full version, download Belarc and run it. It displays the results of a scan of your assets in a web page window and these results will include any product keys listed in the system registry.

3. It is perfectly safe to use.

Hi Seavixen,

The thing is I had it and was using it for a year prior to the recent reinstall. My memory, plus a move, has meant the case/key/disk has been lost. Very unlike me but hey ho.

Out of interest - how do you think the reinstallers managed to get it back on, or is it a programme which is sort of part of any windows reinstall and waits to be validated? (apols for the rookie understanding).

Really appreciate the reccommendation for Belarc. Thanks again for that!!!

ah - if they did a clean reinstall would that mean the system registry would have been wiped of any information relating to keys???

actually - I have a back up of my old registry on an external hard drive. Is there any way I could scan that or find the key in it somehow?

OEM PCs with win7 often come with office 2010 Starter edition- this is a full and free, not trial version but has limited functionality. It includes only Word and Excel, these are missing some specialized features though they are fine for day to day work. Starter edition is not available for sale and only comes preinstalled.

If you did have Starter edition, the only way to recover it is via factory restore. All product keys stored in the registry are in encrypted form so cannot be recovered and used. OTOH, if it was a trial version, you'll need to purchase a key.

scamander said:

Hi Seavixen,

The thing is I had it and was using it for a year prior to the recent reinstall. My memory, plus a move, has meant the case/key/disk has been lost. Very unlike me but hey ho.

Out of interest - how do you think the reinstallers managed to get it back on, or is it a programme which is sort of part of any windows reinstall and waits to be validated? (apols for the rookie understanding).

Really appreciate the reccommendation for Belarc. Thanks again for that!!!

You're very welcome.

I think Bill has probably hit the nail on the head.

If you would prefer to have a full version of Microsoft Office, there are good deals on student software:

Microsoft Office Student Offer 2010 Home Software Download UK | Software4Students.co.uk

Academic Superstore : Academic Software discounts for students, teachers and schools

If you don't want to shell out more money, Open Office is free and is compatible with MS documents.

Hi Bill2,

Cheers - I'm not sure which it is to be honest. I can only see Word and Excel as I only used those two. It does sound like I have the starter edition though. I've just had Windows reinstalled, hence the sudden request for the product key, is a factory restore similar to this?

I'm concerned about getting in way past what I know. As such I think I'm going to try the scan (not expecting it to be there) and if not buy the product key. If so - will an Office 2010 key work for this? Or will I need to buy it with the disk as well?

Cheers Seavixen,

I'm not a student I'm afraid!! I'm going to check the details (e.g. what MS it is exactly as I'm getitng confused over whether it's Office Starter or Home etc etc) when I get home tonight.

I'll then post tomorrow. The last thing I want to do is buy anything unecessary and then buy the wrong thing.

I'd go with the factory reset but I've just had windows reinstalled and am basically scared of breaking something (technical eh?) and having no pc.