product id #

[jb]

I purchased a new computer from gateway about a year and
a half ago. The Microsoft works suite came installed on
my computer when it arrived. My very first computer
ever. About a year later I was having troubles with my
operating system. It may have been a virus. So I had to
reformat my hard drive. After reinstalling all the
software I had gotten from gateway, including the
Microsoft works suite, I tried to use Microsoft Word. I
was asked for a product identification number, which I
didn't have. I contacted gateway about this problem and
they are trying to tell me that I have to buy new
software; that there is no way to get this number. As a
new computer user, and never even had heard of such a
thing as a product identification number I threw the box
away. Because I didn't have to install the software
myself there was never a mention of a product
identification number. Had I known I would have kept
it. My question is is there anyway I can get this
number. I have the discs just no number and no money to
buy another Works suite or even just the Word. Gateway
is of no help so far, is there any way to get help?

 

[Graham Mayor]

Gateway should be able to supply you with an OEM number for the software -
and having bought the package from them it is their responsibilty to do so.
If you cannot find the original number, then try and find someone at Gateway
who knows what they are doing.

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Graham Mayor - Word MVP
E-mail (e-mail address removed)
Web site www.gmayor.dsl.pipex.com
Word MVP web site www.mvps.org/word
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[Suzanne S. Barnhill]

"Should be able to" <>"can." OEMs are insistent that they cannot supply
*replacement* CD keys, and apparently they don't keep any record of the
original ones. Dell at least requires Office users to activate (and perhaps
register) the applications themselves, which assures that they see the stern
warning not to misplace the package with the CD key.

--
Suzanne S. Barnhill
Microsoft MVP (Word)
Words into Type
Fairhope, Alabama USA
Word MVP FAQ site: http://www.mvps.org/word
Email cannot be acknowledged; please post all follow-ups to the newsgroup so
all may benefit.

 

[Graham Mayor]

While I have no doubt you are right in practice, I wonder how this would
stand up in court. Effectively you pay for the OEM version as part of the
package. If you cannot use that package through lack of serial number the
product is useless. If that product is useless because of some hardware or
software installation failure that required the reformat of the hard disc
the supplier is under some obligation to rectify this. I doubt that advice
to write down the number would suffice in law.

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Graham Mayor - Word MVP
E-mail (e-mail address removed)
Web site www.gmayor.dsl.pipex.com
Word MVP web site www.mvps.org/word
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[Graham Mayor]

It would be worth checking the remit of such a court.

--
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Graham Mayor - Word MVP
E-mail (e-mail address removed)
Web site www.gmayor.dsl.pipex.com
Word MVP web site www.mvps.org/word
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