How do I activate new product key for non-genuine Office 2003

[Tom Pringle]

My Office 2003 has not passed authentication.
I have purchased on-line download with product key.
How do I use this new product key?

 

[garfield-n-odie [MVP]]

You start with illegal pirated software. You buy(?) more illegal
pirated software. Then you come to Microsoft's website to ask
how to install your illegal pirated software. Too bad Jay Leno
isn't doing his "I love stupid criminals" bit on the Tonight Show
anymore.

 

[LVTravel]

My Office 2003 has not passed authentication.
I have purchased on-line download with product key.
How do I use this new product key?

What web site did you purchase this new "on-line download with product key"
from? Office 2003 is not normally sold via any legal download now since
Office 2007 has come out. Just curious and may be able to help.

 

[Tom Pringle]

Yes very funny but a little presumptious. The software came with the second
hand laptop I purchased. I did not know it was pirated.

I am, admittedly, ignorant of many technical aspects of computing but am not
a criminal, nor am I stupid.

On failing the authentication I sought to purchase a valid copy of Office
2003. I did not want to buy 2007. I like 2003, I know how it works, I do
not want to waste time going through the tedious MS learning curve where they
move everything around and rename it whenever they change their software. I
asked in local PC shops and some suggested i may be able to buy authentic
copies on-line. I then purchased Office 2003 from a website
(eSoftwaremall.com). I did not know, at the time, that MS did not offer
Office via download. I have bought most of my PC software via download with
no problem in the past. However, I have since endured eyerolling and
tut-tutting from all manner of colleagues who didn't offer much help when I
asked them how to get Office 2003

I have now bought Office 2007 from the Microsoft site for £107 and am
resigned to having to use it. However, if there is a way I can purchase a
genuine copy of 2003 I still wish to do so.

Perhaps you could offer some advice.

 

[Tom Pringle]

Unwittingly, I purchased it from esoftwaremall.com. I have contacted Paypal
to dispute the payment and also the vendor. They have simply replied by
sending me the same invalid authentication code.

I still wish to purchase a valid copy of Office 2003. I now have a valid
copy of Office 2007 from the MS site, but am reluctant to use it unless I
absolutely have to.

 

[LVTravel]

Unwittingly, I purchased it from esoftwaremall.com. I have contacted
Paypal
to dispute the payment and also the vendor. They have simply replied by
sending me the same invalid authentication code.

I still wish to purchase a valid copy of Office 2003. I now have a valid
copy of Office 2007 from the MS site, but am reluctant to use it unless I
absolutely have to.

Your next step is to contact Microsoft directly. See:
http://www.microsoft.com/resources/howtotell/reports/report.aspx Microsoft
may be able to help you get a legitimate version of the software through
their Microsoft genuine program.

I would strongly suggest you fill out the information for your newest
purchase, including the product key you got and also give them your personal
information to allow them to follow-up with you to do something with this
company. If you have paid through PayPal and it has been debited from your
cash account you are probably out the money sent.

I looked on Amazon.com/uk for available sales of 2003 Pro and none of them
there looked good. Some were new but OEM which you don't want as they can
only be installed on one single computer and can't be transferred to another
computer. Some were used and if purchased, probably would put you back in
the same boat as before. One even said the product was used, good condition
but the case was gone. Guess what, the case held the key.

Unfortunately you got took by the "if it seems too good to be true it
probably is" gotcha!

 

[Tom Pringle]

Your next step is to contact Microsoft directly. See:
http://www.microsoft.com/resources/howtotell/reports/report.aspx Microsoft
may be able to help you get a legitimate version of the software through
their Microsoft genuine program.

....
Thanks. That was very helpful. As you say, looks like I was stung. I've
learnt my lesson. Thanks for taking the time and effort to try and source a
genuine Office 2003. I had no idea it would be that difficult. I didn't
know that OEM copies were only good for one PC either. That's asaved me
another potential hole in my pocket.
Many thanks,
Tom

 

[Tom Pringle]

Your next step is to contact Microsoft directly. See:
http://www.microsoft.com/resources/howtotell/reports/report.aspx

Whenever I try to fill this form in I get an error message for the website
address (http://esoftwaremall.com) format and my post code. I have tried all
the combinations of upper case, lower case and spaces I can think of. Any
suggestions?