Can't load MS Office 2004 to upgraded G4 gigabit ethernet dual processor Mac

[thorbreton9028]

Hello,

Recently I got a MacBook Pro along with iWork, iLife and Microsoft
Office for Mac 2004. They loaded easily on the MBP.

I also have a G4 and wanted to load iWork and iLife. They loaded
easily on my MacBook Pro. I just tried to load Office for Mac 2004 on
the G4. It won't install

The G4 has been a flawless performer for seven years. I took the G4 in
o an authorized Apple Service Center and they determined that the
power supply has failed. They replaced the power supply and I also had
them install another 512 MB of memory (now up to 1.5 GB), replace the
hard drive (the original had bad blocks) and install OS 10.4.8. They
installed 10.4.8 so I could launch in either 10.4.8 or 9.2.2. I need
9.2.2 to run the OS 9.x version of Photoshop. The older version of
Photoshop works fine for my needs.

With that as background, I attempted to load MS Office for Mac 2004
this afternoon and, after entering the Product Key, keep getting a pop-
up window that says "Please verify the Product Key you entered is
correct." I've entered the Product Key a 1/2 dozen times and keep
getting the pop-up. I've tried to install using Setup Assistant as
well as "drag and drop onto the hard drive."

I've used the install disk on my MacBook Pro and the G4. My
understanding is that the license allows me to install the software on
multiple computers that I own.

Any suggestion on what might be wrong?

Thank you.

Thor

 

[Daiya Mitchell]

Hmmm. The regular retail license, I believe, allows you to install
Office on one desktop and one laptop (and only one of those two can be
running any Office program at a time). It may be balking at a second
laptop--the Product Key message may hint at that. Try disconnecting
from the network while you install.

 

[JE McGimpsey]

I've used the install disk on my MacBook Pro and the G4. My
understanding is that the license allows me to install the software on
multiple computers that I own.

Any suggestion on what might be wrong?

If Daiya's suggestion doesn't work, the only things I can think of is
either (a) you're entering the product key incorrectly (e.g., B instead
of 8), which I would think is very unlikely, or (b) that your product
key is one that has been disabled due to piracy or it being widely
distributed, which also seems unlikely if you've got a valid install
disk.

Next step would be MS product support...

You are allowed to install Office on your primary computer plus a
laptop, though you're not allowed to run the apps at the same time on
both machines.

 

[thorbreton9028]

If Daiya's suggestion doesn't work, the only things I can think of is
either (a) you're entering the product key incorrectly (e.g., B instead
of 8), which I would think is very unlikely, or (b) that your product
key is one that has been disabled due to piracy or it being widely
distributed, which also seems unlikely if you've got a valid install
disk.

Next step would be MS product support...

You are allowed to install Office on your primary computer plus a
laptop, though you're not allowed to run the apps at the same time on
both machines.

JE,

I took your advice and phoned MS product support. I first talked to a
person in the Philippines who was unable to resolve the problem and
passed me along to a next level up support person in Nova Scotia. She
worked to resolve my problem for about an hour and a half. Very
impressive.

The short version of the solution started with verifying my that my
Product Key was correct and in Microsoft's database. It was. She then
had me read the part number on the install disk to verify its
authenticity. I was then instructed to turn off all extensions and re-
try to install. In each case I still got the dreaded popup window
saying "Please verify the Product Key you entered is correct."

Then I was asked to change my password and try a "test" password. (In
truth I don't remember whether she asked me to turn off the extensions
before or after trying the "test" password.) Still got the popup
window. Next she asked me to type in a special Microsoft Product Key
and the computer accepted that. She had thought that the disk might be
corrupt but the Microsoft Product Key eliminated that potential. Then
I was instructed to trash the software that had loaded as part of the
"test."

Then she had me go back to my own password and re-start the computer.
She concluded that my disk Product Key was corrupt. The next, and
final step, was for her to provide me with a brand new Product Key and
Product ID for my disk. I entered the new Product Key and the software
loaded immediately. The "old" Product Key is gone forever and, should
I ever need to, will use the new Product Key.

I may have left out a step but that's basically what she had me do.
The important learning is that, for reasons she couldn't immediately
determine, once in a while the Product Key itself is corrupt or
invalid even though it is/was verified as being valid in the Microsoft
database by the tech support person. it's apparently rare but not
unheard of.

It was a gratifying result to put it mildly. Oh, and yes, she
confirmed that the license is for one desktop and one laptop and they
are not to be run concurrently.

JE and Dalya, I thank you for your suggestions.

Thor

 

[Clive Huggan]

JE,

I took your advice and phoned MS product support. I first talked to a
person in the Philippines who was unable to resolve the problem and
passed me along to a next level up support person in Nova Scotia. She
worked to resolve my problem for about an hour and a half. Very
impressive.

The short version of the solution started with verifying my that my
Product Key was correct and in Microsoft's database. It was. She then
had me read the part number on the install disk to verify its
authenticity. I was then instructed to turn off all extensions and re-
try to install. In each case I still got the dreaded popup window
saying "Please verify the Product Key you entered is correct."

Then I was asked to change my password and try a "test" password. (In
truth I don't remember whether she asked me to turn off the extensions
before or after trying the "test" password.) Still got the popup
window. Next she asked me to type in a special Microsoft Product Key
and the computer accepted that. She had thought that the disk might be
corrupt but the Microsoft Product Key eliminated that potential. Then
I was instructed to trash the software that had loaded as part of the
"test."

Then she had me go back to my own password and re-start the computer.
She concluded that my disk Product Key was corrupt. The next, and
final step, was for her to provide me with a brand new Product Key and
Product ID for my disk. I entered the new Product Key and the software
loaded immediately. The "old" Product Key is gone forever and, should
I ever need to, will use the new Product Key.

I may have left out a step but that's basically what she had me do.
The important learning is that, for reasons she couldn't immediately
determine, once in a while the Product Key itself is corrupt or
invalid even though it is/was verified as being valid in the Microsoft
database by the tech support person. it's apparently rare but not
unheard of.

It was a gratifying result to put it mildly. Oh, and yes, she
confirmed that the license is for one desktop and one laptop and they
are not to be run concurrently.

JE and Dalya, I thank you for your suggestions.

Thor

Hello Thor,

I haven't contributed to this thread but have been following it with
interest. Thank you indeed for taking the trouble to give us such
comprehensive feedback on what happened. It is very useful.

Cheers,

Clive Huggan
Canberra, Australia
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