Can't register Office 2000 - I can use it only 30 more times!

[Lee Beck]

I have been able to successfully reinstall Office 2000 Premium after
reformatting my HDD and reinstalling XP/SP2. However, after first start, I
get a message that I can use office 50 times (I think) before being required
to register. I had some time yesterday so I decided to register. Tried the
Internet option and it said "server down - try again later" or something to
that effect. After an hour or so with the same message, I decided to try to
register by email. I filled out the required info, and then tried to
register. The wizard gives me a 17 alphanumeric code and asks for my
confirmation, which apparently was supposed to be sent by email (though this
isn't actually said). It's been about 36 hours without any email from MSFT
(yes, I checked my spam filter) so I decided to try by internet again. To my
shagrin the wizard will not allow that option now. It continues to ask me
for confirmation that I never received.

There also is an option to register by telephone, so I call that number and
spoke with India. He said that he can help me only with activation, and gave
me customer service number (also in India or that region of the world). CS
gave me the number for activation. I told her I already had spoken with that
number. She said that she can transfer me to paid support and for $50 I can
talk to someone else. I balked and said that I never before have had to pay
to reinstall software that I have legally purchased.

Long story, but bottom line is that I need to know how to register Office so
that I can continue to use it. I have the original CDs and product key.

 

[LVTravel]

You don't need to register to use the software, you need to activate it. If
the software won't activate by using the 25 character key on the internet,
you will need to use the telephone activation method, call the telephone
number that comes up during the activation phase.

 

[Gordon]

You don't need to register to use the software, you need to activate it.

I didn't realise that activation went that far back......

 

[Lee Beck]

Nope. That confused the Indians also.

As I explained in my long description, the "Wizard" won't allow me to go
back to the Internet option, Another option "register by email" apparently
thinks that it sent me an email with some code, and the "register by
telephone" option gives me the same runaround of either 1) this number is for
activation only, you need to talk to dustomer service, or 2) you need to
speak with an activation representitive (and they give me the number I just
spoke with).

There must be someone in this network that still uses Office 2000 and has
found the need to reinstall/register. Astually, I've done it several times
since 2000, but I think the register by internet must have worked. This is
the first time that I recall using another option then the inability to
reverse my dicision (now I can't register by Internet).

 

[Lee Beck]

BTW - My response was intended for the travel guy, who apparently didn't read
or understand my dilemma. I think Gordon is probably right about activation
not going back that far.

I can't believe that I'm the only person who has successfully used MS Office
for 7 years and doesn't feel the need to upgrade to a later version.

 

[DL]

I used Office2k untill recently, there was no Activation on my cd's, however
I was told that Activation had been introduced on the final release
versions.

 

[Lee Beck]

This is not actually activation. It is registration, and I do recall having
to register after several other reinstalls. It works like activation except
that you are allowed to use the Office products a certain number of time. I
think Istarted out with 50 - now down to 30. Presumably, if you don't
register before you get to zero, you can't use the product any longer.

My basic question is: How do you register when the wizard no longer allows
the www option, the email option doesn't give you a secret code, and the
telephone option doesn't know what you're talking about?

I figured that "the community" is likely to have come across this dilemma
before. So here I am.

 

[DL]

Registration is optional,
Activation, if relevant is compulsory
If activation is required and you dont, then the product will go into
reduced mode after xx days / uses

 

[Lee Beck]

What the heck is "reduced mode?"

I want the full software that I paid for, anyway. And I can't figure out
why MSFT wants you to register and then doesn't privide a way to do it. I'm
ready/willing/able to provide any data they want if they just give me the
means to do it.

I may neet to uninstall/reinstall the Office package to see if it will reset
the registration process. But Ihave this sinking feeling that something like
a registry entry will prevent me from doing this also.

I was hoping that an expert here could tell me how to register - should be
simpler than this.

 

[DL]

Reduced mode means it wont save anything

To repeat, registration is optional, Acivation is a requirement

 

[Lee Beck]

Having an option to use software that won't save anything isn't an option for
me. So registration is a requirement. As it turns out, I've grown used to
using a computer to do more than enable me to look at something on the
monitor.

Again, I'm hoping for a fix.

 

[Gordon]

Having an option to use software that won't save anything isn't an option
for
me. So registration is a requirement.

I think you are getting very confused. All "Registration" does is to give MS
an email address they can send marketing stuff to. It does NOT prevent you
from using the software.

"Activation" now is a VERY different kettle of fish. If you do not ACTIVATE
your product, (NOT "register" but ACTIVATE) then you get reduced
functionality after 30 days.
I am not aware that Office 2000 had Activation. ( I thought that Office XP
was the first Office version to have activation. I may be wrong....)

 

[Lee Beck]

Confused? Possibly. I've been confused before. However, the wording of the
pop-up is something like"You can use this software 22 more times before you
are required to register." The countdown and the little word "required" are
what have me concerned. Admittedly, when I've reinstalled in the past, I
never let the counter go to zero.

Other products that ask for registration usually give an option to opt-out
or offer a check box "do not show this again."

I really think that MSFT Office 2000 "register" is an early form of
activation, i.e. to have a computer check their database and see if the copy
is legit. I may be wrong and confused. I'll let the ticker go to zero and
see what happens.

 

[DL]

Register is not an early form of Activation, as repeatedlt stated
Registration is optional, and as Gorden said it gives MS an email address
with which to advise you of products / marketting

*Exactly* which version of Office2k do you have, ie does it include an SP if
so which one?

 

[Milly Staples [MVP - Outlook]]

Office 2000 SR-1 full product (not patched via download) was the first version of Office to require registration.

--
Milly Staples [MVP - Outlook]

Post all replies to the group to keep the discussion intact. All
unsolicited mail sent to my personal account will be deleted without
reading.

After furious head scratching, Gordon asked:

| || Having an option to use software that won't save anything isn't an
|| option for
|| me. So registration is a requirement.
|
| I think you are getting very confused. All "Registration" does is to
| give MS an email address they can send marketing stuff to. It does
| NOT prevent you from using the software.
|
| "Activation" now is a VERY different kettle of fish. If you do not
| ACTIVATE your product, (NOT "register" but ACTIVATE) then you get
| reduced functionality after 30 days.
| I am not aware that Office 2000 had Activation. ( I thought that
| Office XP was the first Office version to have activation. I may be
| wrong....)

 

[Gordon]

Office 2000 SR-1 full product (not patched via download) was the first
version of Office to require registration.


Registration or Activation?

 

[Milly Staples [MVP - Outlook]]

Registration.

--
Milly Staples [MVP - Outlook]

Post all replies to the group to keep the discussion intact. All
unsolicited mail sent to my personal account will be deleted without
reading.

After furious head scratching, Gordon asked:

| | Office 2000 SR-1 full product (not patched via download) was the first
| version of Office to require registration.
|
|
| Registration or Activation?

 

[Milly Staples [MVP - Outlook]]

For further information, if you really want to know:

Description of volume licensing with the Office 2000 Registration Wizard:
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/240085/en-us


--
Milly Staples [MVP - Outlook]

Post all replies to the group to keep the discussion intact. All
unsolicited mail sent to my personal account will be deleted without
reading.

After furious head scratching, Gordon asked:

| | Office 2000 SR-1 full product (not patched via download) was the first
| version of Office to require registration.
|
|
| Registration or Activation?

 

[Lee Beck]

Thanks, Milly. Yours is the first response that appears to acknowledge that
my legally purchased Office 2000 will become useless if I continue to use it
without registering it. However, I still can't figure out how to register.
Summarizing from my original post:

* I tried the Internet option and it said server down (or unavailable).
* After a few hours and several tries I opted for the email option. I got a
return that said a code had been emailed to me. I never fot the code
* Now when I try to register the Internet option is not even available -
only register by telephone.
* I tried the telephone number provided by the wizard and I get someone in
India that says the number is only for activation - not registrateio. After
a lengthy discussion, I'm referred to a customer service number
* I call customer service (another foreigh national) I am given the number
provided by the wizard (where no help is received.
* I go to MSFT newsgroup commuiteis (here) and a discussion gets started on
whether or not registration is really required.

The sites to which you refer are primarilly for volume and educational
licensing, and anti-piracy. I'm still looking for a way to register my
single copy. Maybe if I uninstall my copy of Office and reinstall it It will
allow the Internet option again?

 

[JoAnn Paules]

*Registration* is optional. *Activation* is required.

--
JoAnn Paules
MVP Microsoft [Publisher]

~~~~~
How to ask a question
http://support.microsoft.com/KB/555375

Thanks, Milly. Yours is the first response that appears to acknowledge
that
my legally purchased Office 2000 will become useless if I continue to use
it
without registering it. However, I still can't figure out how to
register.
Summarizing from my original post:

* I tried the Internet option and it said server down (or unavailable).
* After a few hours and several tries I opted for the email option. I got
a
return that said a code had been emailed to me. I never fot the code
* Now when I try to register the Internet option is not even available -
only register by telephone.
* I tried the telephone number provided by the wizard and I get someone in
India that says the number is only for activation - not registrateio.
After
a lengthy discussion, I'm referred to a customer service number
* I call customer service (another foreigh national) I am given the number
provided by the wizard (where no help is received.
* I go to MSFT newsgroup commuiteis (here) and a discussion gets started
on
whether or not registration is really required.

The sites to which you refer are primarilly for volume and educational
licensing, and anti-piracy. I'm still looking for a way to register my
single copy. Maybe if I uninstall my copy of Office and reinstall it It
will
allow the Internet option again?

For further information, if you really want to know:

Description of volume licensing with the Office 2000 Registration Wizard:
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/240085/en-us


--
Milly Staples [MVP - Outlook]

Post all replies to the group to keep the discussion intact. All
unsolicited mail sent to my personal account will be deleted without
reading.

After furious head scratching, Gordon asked:

| | Office 2000 SR-1 full product (not patched via download) was the first
| version of Office to require registration.
|
|
| Registration or Activation?