Detection of Shrinkwrapped Bootleg Office Professional 2007

[internetuse]

I purchased a shrinkwrapped Office Professional 2007, online, which was
ranked high enough that I was initially assuming it would not be a bootleg
software dealer, as the vendor was so Google savvy that the problem would
have been caught already.

However, and this is after "how to tell", somthing about this just bothers
me, as the booklet just looks like it had printing problems per what I have
had printers do in the past.

If this is bootleg, it is the high quality bootleg that is doing a better
job of bootlegging than the posted examples.

I was wondering if any of the Microsoft update functions detect bootleg
software, so that I can sure?

It came with a product key, it installed, it is activated, it upgraded
download trial software and 2003 MS Office Professional, and it has accepted
2 service packs for Office 2007 to date.

Is there a point in here where I can rely on Microsoft's technology to
detect bootleg and write this off to being concerned about purchasing retail
software from China, where this turned out to be from, due to the lawsuits
Microsoft has had with China about software piracy?

It just feels like something is mildly not right with the packaging, but i
am not sure if the lawsuit history has me paranoid about it, given this is a
web site that was ranked on top with Google when I looked for best prices on
software on sale right now due to the academic year starting up.

I am not intentionally owning possible bootleg, and will in the future am
going to find a national brand source at this point so that I don't have to
spend the time checking how to tell if the software is bootleg or not.

But I am not sure how to be sure, and was wondering if there is any tool I
can run from Microsoft which will detect bootleg software that at this point,
allegedly has a 30 day money back option, and which on a credit card, I can
probably reverse charges on if this is bootleg.

But only for a limited amount of time.

Thanks.

mmp

 

[JoAnn Paules]

If your gut tells you it's bootleg, why not return it, get your money back,
and purchase it from a reputable dealer?

 

[internetuse]

If your gut tells you it's bootleg, why not return it, get your money back,
and purchase it from a reputable dealer?

--
JoAnn Paules
MVP Microsoft [Publisher]
Tech Editor for "Microsoft Publisher 2007 For Dummies"

I purchased a shrinkwrapped Office Professional 2007, online, which was
ranked high enough that I was initially assuming it would not be a bootleg
software dealer, as the vendor was so Google savvy that the problem would
have been caught already.

However, and this is after "how to tell", somthing about this just bothers
me, as the booklet just looks like it had printing problems per what I

<,delete> >

First, there is a financial cost to returning the software, which was not
free, but less expensive than purchase through Microsoft, although also
cheaper than Costco for example.

Secondly, I am actually not sure that it is bootleg for the following reason.

I have subcontracted to chinese factories before, and have been frustrated
with quality problems of the type that I have with the packaging, which I am
assuming was also manufactured in China.

The box is also labeled as "Office Pro 2007 English Intl Not to US CD".

Which is potentially cost effective manufacture in China, of an edition that
was intended for sale in that part of the world.

I guess I don't want to accuse the vendor of selling bootleg in case I am
sure, from my prior quality frustrations with one factory being a lot like
this, and the cost involved.

I would like to know if there is a tool I can use to detect bootleg
software, as the software is otherwise look, file, and code level compatible
with everything it is supposed to be.

And this would have to be a software detectable problem if there is one, and
this is not just an edition manufactured in China that is not bootleg, and
just another cheap edition sold this way that perhaps was not intended to be.

But their computer system is not restricting to the region it was
manufactured for, and I have no idea of how to tell or be sure this is
bootleg.

I am intending to keep and use the software due to the financial burdens of
mailing it back and replacing it, as well as the roughly $100 difference in
cost from the upgrade for 2007.

Unless I can obtain evidence it is bootleg, which would give me a valid
legal claim to get my money back.

And so I was wondering if there was a software tool I could use to verify or
rule that out.

mmp

 

[Justbob30]

I purchased a shrinkwrapped Office Professional 2007, online, which was
ranked high enough that I was initially assuming it would not be a bootleg
software dealer, as the vendor was so Google savvy that the problem would
have been caught already.

However, and this is after "how to tell", somthing about this just bothers
me, as the booklet just looks like it had printing problems per what I
have
had printers do in the past.

If this is bootleg, it is the high quality bootleg that is doing a better
job of bootlegging than the posted examples.

I was wondering if any of the Microsoft update functions detect bootleg
software, so that I can sure?

It came with a product key, it installed, it is activated, it upgraded
download trial software and 2003 MS Office Professional, and it has
accepted
2 service packs for Office 2007 to date.

Is there a point in here where I can rely on Microsoft's technology to
detect bootleg and write this off to being concerned about purchasing
retail
software from China, where this turned out to be from, due to the lawsuits
Microsoft has had with China about software piracy?

It just feels like something is mildly not right with the packaging, but i
am not sure if the lawsuit history has me paranoid about it, given this is
a
web site that was ranked on top with Google when I looked for best prices
on
software on sale right now due to the academic year starting up.

I am not intentionally owning possible bootleg, and will in the future am
going to find a national brand source at this point so that I don't have
to
spend the time checking how to tell if the software is bootleg or not.

But I am not sure how to be sure, and was wondering if there is any tool I
can run from Microsoft which will detect bootleg software that at this
point,
allegedly has a 30 day money back option, and which on a credit card, I
can
probably reverse charges on if this is bootleg.

But only for a limited amount of time.

Thanks.

mmp

-How about running "office genuine advantage" from the M/S site, if it
passes, your good to go.

 

[JoAnn Paules]

I'm curious - did you know you were buying it from China?

 

[internetuse]

But only for a limited amount of time.

-How about running "office genuine advantage" from the M/S site, if it
passes, your good to go.

Thanks.

Per the validation tool, this software has a bad product key, and is then
not genuinely licensed Microsoft software.

The web site is All Items Free Shipping, who I have just notified of this, at
www.specialtechs.com.

mmp

 

[LVTravel]

Thanks.

Per the validation tool, this software has a bad product key, and is then
not genuinely licensed Microsoft software.

The web site is All Items Free Shipping, who I have just notified of this,
at
www.specialtechs.com.

mmp

One quick look at that site and I knew you were screwed royally. No mailing
or telephone contact information, email only, products much cheaper than
they should be sold for. If a credit card hope that they will reverse
charges. PayPal or other forms of payment, especially cash types, kiss the
money goodbye.

Keep all documentation and go to this Microsoft web site and read all about
Genuine Microsoft Software.

http://www.microsoft.com/genuine/downloads/faq.aspx

Near the bottom of the FAQs is information on "What is the genuine Office
offer?" and "Details of the genuine Office Complimentary Offer." To use the
Complimentary Offer or low cost offer for genuine software you will need the
original documentation sent by the seller.

Hope it works out for you.