I have a copy of Word 2000 that I never installed on the computer it came with, and that computer is toast now. Back then, they put the keys on the COA, which I probably don’t still have - or if I do, I really don’t know where.
Now I need Word (not that it’s ever been my favorite software, but that’s irrelevant), and would like to install it. Is there any way I can retrieve the key without the @#$%^&* COA? I’d really rather not have to buy a copy, when I’ve got this CD setting right here, perfectly legal, and all mine, smirking at me?
Hindsight is wonderful, but your plight illustrates the need to write a key ON THE INSTALLATION DISK when you get it. That way it can never be separated. Studies have shown that 94.27% of all disks get separated from their keys within 1.629 years of purchase. Don’t let that happen to you!
If things don’t work out (or depending on what you mean by “need” Word), you can give OpenOffice a try. It’s an excellent alternative to Word, and has no problem converting back and forth between formats for most files (YMMV).
Thank you, thank you. I’m gonna try one after the other, if the first doesn’t do it. I’ll try to remember to report back, as soon as I know.
Thanks, but no thanks. I’ve seen too many reports that OO docs rarely open correctly in Word - and I’ll be submitting manuscripts on CD, not printed out.
Oooookay. First one is useless to me - only works on installed products. Second one is strictly buy their product (at a price approximately equal to the cost of some legit copies on eBay). Third one offers free trial download. I’ll hafta install it before I can try it. I may not get to this tonight, but I will surely get back with a report. I only hope & pray it’s a positive one. I’m sure there are other people who’d be delighted to have a solution to this particular problem.
Can you clarify that statement. It is counter to my experience. I have various versions of Word and Office from 1995 to 2003. Some were stand alone and some were pre-installed on PCs. All install and work fine with the keys that came with them.
The important thing is that they work with the original keys. The OP has an installation CD for a Microsoft software product, but no key. The key is not on the installation media, so there’s no way to retrieve it.
Hope the mods don’t give me shit for saying this, but I’ll bet you can find some keys on the Internet, or can you use one from a friend with the same version? Since you have a legal copy, and all copies of the same version work with many keys, this might be unethical but not illegal. And a key supplied by a mysterious person lurking in a back alley shouldn’t have any way to hurt your system; it’s just a key, not a program or virus.
Or: Microsoft seems to keep sales data perpetually, as I have received info from them with product numbers and sales data from 20 years ago. Do you have an invoice from the original purchase? Or even from the computer manufacturer, if pre-installed? Is the key on the invoice, or can you contact MS or the vendor with the invoice number to get the key?
Under certain licensing schemes the CoA is tied to the PC, so tygerbright may well be out of luck there. The good news is that as a student, she’ll be entitled to buy an educational copy of Word at a very significant discount.
You’re absotively, posilutely right. I did install the “free trial” of the third one (and have now removed it). Guess what? Not only can’t you actually use it to retrieve a key code from a program disc, but it won’t even work on installed programs until you pay for it. How on earth they can keep a straight face and call it a free trial, I cannot imagine. If the program ain’t functional, it ain’t a trial!
Bummer.
No. It came with a Compaq I bought in 1999, in another state. I’m on my 2nd other computer since then. I suppose it’s possible I still have the COA somewhere, as I said in the OP, but no clue where.
No, I’m not a student, and haven’t been for some years. Not everybody who works on manuscripts is a student.
:Sigh: So I’m back to buying another as old or older on eBay, at a price that’s hard to squeeze out on SS disability, unless I get hold of a product key, and it works (and I seriously doubt it, and hate to try; it feels like cheating, even though I really, truly own this stupid, but completely legitimate, program CD). For those old enough to recall it, picture me as Joe Btspflck, with the lightning-studded thundercloud fixed above my head. Aaaaarrrgh! (to completely mix cartoon images)
AFAIK, the key code is not on the program disc. How could it be, unless each disc were unique? (And by the way, if you did need to recover a key code from an installed program, I would recommend Belarc Advisor. Completely free (for non-commercial use) and reliable.)
And if your need for Microsoft Word is also non-commercial, I recommend purchasing the Microsoft Office 2007 Home and Student Edition suite, which can be obtained for as little as $90. Unfortunately, it comes with the Office 2007 version of Word, which is very different, may be too confusing and may not work on an older machine. As far I could tell, you can’t buy older versions of Microsoft applications through normal channels.
They’re not unique? Then perhaps there is some hope.
I’ve bookmarked this, in case of future need; thanks.
My intended use is not non-commercial. I’m hoping to sell stuff, but that remains to be seen.
You can buy used, and sometimes new, unused programs through eBay. They have a set of rules, apparently vetted by MS, about how OEM software can be sold. At present, I cannot afford the 2007 under any circumstances, and it looks as though, if I’m reduced to buying through eBay, I may be able to get something usable in the range of $50 - or maybe a bit less, if I’m lucky.
You may want to look for a copy of MS Works Suite 2006 on ebay, it includes Word 2002 and looks to be going for $40ish. Also available here. Note that it’s a DVD disc.
Thanks. The DVD disc isn’t a problem. I saw one of those sets on eBay, and thought seriously about it. Of course, I’ve already got Works 2006 on this computer; it came with it (but not Word; instead, with a 60 day trial of Office 2003 - probably leading to purchase direct from MS, at some horrendous price).
I’ve also thought about buying the Word Perfect suite. They’re soooo much cheaper. But I don’t really know how acceptable that would be to publishers. It’s so strange; WP used to be the standard - I used it for many years while working, and always considered it superior to Word. I also like Corel much better, as a company. I understand WP is still preferred by a significant part of the legal profession. However, by all I’ve heard/read, publishers want Word files.
The DMCA makes any attempt to circumvent a copyright protect illegal. Entering in a knowingly incorrect key would be an attempt to circumvent a protection designed to ensure the product was legitimately purchased.
