Office no longer activated ... or is it?

[Bruckshaw]

My Toshiba laptop came with Office 2010 pre-installed and has worked perfectly for 8 months. Suddenly when now try to open any Office element I get the message that it is not activated BUT other than having to close the notification message (a minor pain) everything works normally (edit, save etc) except for the red top panel. I understand that an un-activated copy would not allow edits. I have no discs or code. Can anyone help please?

 

[Ranger4]

Hi Bruckshaw, welcome to the Forum.

Have you installed all the Office 2010 updates. If so, then try contacting Microsoft by phone for help.

While you say you have not experienced any problems with Office, you may be in the 30 grace period that is provided when the activation code has not been entered. After that it will fail to work.

 

[Bruckshaw]

Activation message

Thank you Ranger 4 for your prompt reply. I assume you meant 30 DAY grace period but, as I said earlier, I have been using the programs for 8 months until a couple of weeks ago when the problem suddenly started to appear.

 

[Ranger4]

That's what I am talking about. If something has gone awry with your Office 2010 activation, then you may be in a 30 day period, that started from when you first received the warning.

As you don't have an Office 2010 installation disc & your laptop came with Office already installed, the only solution is to contact Toshiba &/or Microsoft.

 

[Bruckshaw]

Activatiion issue

Ah! I see what you mean about the start date. In answer to your other question the Office 2010 was installed on October 19th and I have not updated it since then. SP2?

Thanks again.

 

[Ranger4]

It would be a good idea to install all the updates as doing that might fix your problem. Also if you have to contact Microsoft they will very likely ask you the same question, so install all the updates.

 

[Bruckshaw]

Will do. And I see there was an update at almost exactly the time I got the problem!!

 

[DavidE]

FYI,

Office 2007 and 2010 ISO's are available right now via the Windows ISO Downloader.exe available at Heidoc here:
https://heidoc.net/joomla/technolog...icrosoft-windows-and-office-iso-download-tool

I don't know if these ISO's can be used with a pre-installed version (key) of Office.
Personally i would grab the ISO while i can get it, it might come in handy someday.
You can run Belarc Advisor and see what it shows for the Office key.
Belarc - System Management For The Internet Age. Software license management, IT asset management, IT security audits and more.

 

[Bruckshaw]

Update,

I contacted MS who told me that my copy was a licenced one and that the licence had expired. I think I may have been sold a pup here. However as of now (3 weeks after my first post and 3+ weeks after first noticing the problem) I can still edit and save Office 2010 files. I am testing daily. If it does collapse on me I will migrate to Open Office as I am no longer a professional user.

 

[Ranger4]

Thanks for getting back & updating on the latest situation.

 

[Eric3742]

As what Ranger4 mentioned, it is true.

While you say you have not experienced any problems with Office, you may be in the 30 grace period that is provided when the activation code has not been entered. After that it will fail to work.

As most OEM provide are good for 6 months trial.
Most OEM will provide Antivirus & any other programs, are limit to 6 months trial period.

 

[Bruckshaw]

Sorry Eric3742, I do not understand what you are saying. My software worked for 8 months and then started to report non-activation. 3 or 4 weeks later it is still working OK but still reports non-activation. MS say the licence has expired.

 

[Ranger4]

Sorry Eric3742, I do not understand what you are saying. My software worked for 8 months and then started to report non-activation. 3 or 4 weeks later it is still working OK but still reports non-activation. MS say the licence has expired.

Did you buy this computer new or second hand?. If second hand, the following might help explain things for you.

It very likely you bought the computer with a VLK version of Office installed. This is a volume license that MS supplies for large company use where they might be installing the software on many computers (in this case Office 2010). This license is usually renewed on a yearly basis.

If the previous owner of your computer worked for such a company they may have had such a copy of Office, which was of course licensed at that time. Then you bought that computer, not knowing this & now the license has expired.

Does this help you understand what might have occurred in your case.

If you bought the computer brand new, then you should contact the seller & take the matter up with them.

 

[Bruckshaw]

Thanks Ranger4.
I understand all that but I am curious why it is still working. I believe that it should continue for 30 days after expiry and that time is surely nearly up! Which is why I am testing it daily. I just did not understand what ERIC3742 was trying to tell me.

 

[Ranger4]

It probably the grace period that MS allows for the license to be renewed. How long that might be is something I cannot answer.

 

[DavidE]

This article should help with how to see the license type and status:
How to Check Office 2010 Activation Status and License Type (Channel) « My Digital Life

 

[Ranger4]

This article should help with how to see the license type and status:
How to Check Office 2010 Activation Status and License Type (Channel) « My Digital Life

That could be a very helpful website for the OP to check his activation status.