MS Office product key not valid etc

[Terminator X]

So I've got a new PC, attempted to re-install MS Office from the CD (yes a CD!) prompted for product code and all works fine. Then when opening up any MS Office product I get prompted to register on-line and get this error:

"this product couldn't be activated because the product key can only be activated in certain geographic regions"

It is a UK product though bought in a shop albeit years ago.

If you then try to register "manually" eg by telephone you get another error "telephone activation is no longer supported".

Anything that can be done here or is it a simple yet cynical ploy from MS to get me to buy an updated copy?

TX.

[TonyRPH]

Which version of Office is it?

[anonymous-user]

Terminator X said:

So I've got a new PC, attempted to re-install MS Office from the CD (yes a CD!) prompted for product code and all works fine. Then when opening up any MS Office product I get prompted to register on-line and get this error:

"this product couldn't be activated because the product key can only be activated in certain geographic regions"

It is a UK product though bought in a shop albeit years ago.

If you then try to register "manually" eg by telephone you get another error "telephone activation is no longer supported".

Anything that can be done here or is it a simple yet cynical ploy from MS to get me to buy an updated copy?

TX.

Hi Ya
For the UK I ring
0800 018 8354
I am then invited to consent to recording I press 1
Then for security purposes i put in the number they give me which is a random number
I then get the welcome to Microsoft message
I then press 3 which is other products
I then press 1 which is I am at the pc with the activation wizard ooen
I then listen and insert the numbers from the various blocks
The system then either says something like ok here is your code insert it carefully into the empty blocks
OR
We need some more info - how many pc's have you put this on etc. assuming its 1 then press 1
Then its either
says something like ok here is your code insert it carefully into the empty blocks
OR
your a victim of piracy etc

[blueg33]

Make sure your new pc didn't come with a pre-installed version that needs activating. Dad this issue with my daughters laptop, it just kept trying to run the pre installed version and that asked for a key

[Terminator X]

TonyRPH said:

Which version of Office is it?

2013. Just reading other replies.

TX.

[mattley]

Terminator X said:

2013. Just reading other replies.

TX.

TechieDaves answer is correct for retail office.

[buggalugs]

I've had a few of these for 2013's supplied by Dell, if you look closely at the COA the EMEA ones should activate, but some were supplied with middle east COA's even in the same batch of orders and these won't activate now. You can usually get around it with TechDave's advice.

[Ledaig]

Terminator X said:

So I've got a new PC,..."this product couldn't be activated because the product key can only be activated in certain geographic regions".

What region is the new pc set as?

[hutchst]

That's interesting. I'm just about to write off an old laptop. It has Office 2013 running. Both the PC and the laptop were bought in South Africa. Office is retail, not OEM. (I bought and paid for it, it wasn't cheap, but it was cheaper than in the UK).

I'm planning to transfer Office 2013 to a new laptop. I am currently in Kuwait, and the laptop was bought here.

Should I geo-locate to South Africa (router-based VPN) before doing the install and licence input?

Do I need to change the region settings in Windows during installation?

Edited by hutchst on Thursday 17th January 06:17

[buggalugs]

hutchst said:

That's interesting. I'm just about to write off an old laptop. It has Office 2013 running. Both the PC and the laptop were bought in South Africa. Office is retail, not OEM. (I bought and paid for it, it wasn't cheap, but it was cheaper than in the UK).

I'm planning to transfer Office 2013 to a new laptop. I am currently in Kuwait, and the laptop was bought here.

Should I geo-locate to South Africa (router-based VPN) before doing the install and licence input?

Do I need to change the region settings in Windows during installation?

Edited by hutchst on Thursday 17th January 06:17

I couldn't say to be honest I haven't tried to get to the bottom of it because I'm not going to get anyone at Dell or Microsoft to give a hoot about a copy of Office 2013 they sold 5 years ago, I usually go find an EMEA one and frig about with telephone activation till I can get one to work... Not that I have to reinstall 2013 much these days but they're all on W7 which is going to force the issue at some point this year. What's the point in buying the product if it's not going to activate in 5 years anyway. If they only want to sell subscriptions then just do that, don't sell the up front product then stop it working.

[Derek Smith]

I had 2010 Office on my computer and laptop. I had a third 'go' at activating remaining. I put another HDD in my laptop due to the other going bang and, not wanting to use up my remaining life, I tried Libre Office as a stopgap while I was ensuring everything was OK. I soon got used to it and it was often first choice even after I reinstalled 2010 Office (after a phone call as the system blocked me). In fact, I preferred the interface to the later Word.

I write for a living, and use fairly small spreadsheets a fair bit. Libre Office was more than adequate for me. I have no real idea why I upgraded to 2016 a couple of years ago. Wish I'd saved my money and stayed with Libre.

I also use Libre Cad. Not the most sophisticated system, but great for what I want.

Edited by Derek Smith on Friday 18th January 09:33

[hutchst]

OK I'll just crack on, change the region in Windows and geolocate the router to South Africa for the install.

It's a good point about Win7 I hadn't thought about that. Thanks, it's going on Win10

[Ridealong]

If you work for a big company, you could buy Microsoft Office Home User Program for £9.99 for PC or Mac.

[Terminator X]

mattley said:

Terminator X said:

2013. Just reading other replies.

TX.

TechieDaves answer is correct for retail office.

Yep that worked, thanks all.

TX.

[hutchst]

hutchst said:

OK I'll just crack on, change the region in Windows and geolocate the router to South Africa for the install.

It's a good point about Win7 I hadn't thought about that. Thanks, it's going on Win10

If I could be allowed to break all the PH rules, and post a follow-up, I did all that and it worked fine. Office 2013 now installed and authenticated on new laptop.