Why has Microsoft Word de-activated?

[jvidziunas]

Opened a document today and Microsoft word brought up a prompt asking me to
activate the product. Problem is, I've already activated Office on this
machine successfully and it's now saying I've used the maximum amount of
licences for this product key. A) Is there some way I can activate Word and
B) How did this happen, and how can I prevent this from happening in the
future?

 

[garfield-n-odie [MVP]]

Did you recently modify your hardware configuration (e.g., added
RAM or a hard drive, replaced a video card or network adapter,
etc.)? If yes, then see item 5 at
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/293151 "Description of the Office
Activation Wizard".

 

[jvidziunas]

Yes, come to think of it I did add a DVD drive in the time betwwen uses of
Word. It's been a while since i needed Word, which was why I didn't think of
that immediately. Is there a way I can restore my hardware config to its
previous state (although something tells me simply disabling the drive in the
hardware manager won't work) or update the license? I remember hearing
something about using the phone but am not quite sure how that works. I'm
also planning on updating my video card within the next few weeks, so perhaps
I should wait to do whatever to restore it after that point.

 

[Suzanne S. Barnhill]

I wouldn't think that adding a DVD drive would trigger an activation prompt
(changing the HD might).

 

[jvidziunas]

Yeah, again now that I think about it I believe I also added some RAM too,
but I don't think it was at the same time, maybe 1-2 days difference between
the two additions. The old motherboard on the computer I'm writing this on
died (since replaced, obviously) and I went parts scrounging Perhaps what
it classifies as 'adequate space between additions' would be a couple weeks?

 

[jvidziunas]

Yeah, but the RAM I added may have, although I think there was a few days'
difference between the two additions. The motherboard on the older family
computer died and I basically salvaged what I could since the replacement has
slightly different RAM module slots. (new has 184-pin, old was 240)

 

[jvidziunas]

woop, looks like I double-posted. Oh well.

 

[garfield-n-odie [MVP]]

Changing the motherboard would very likely trigger the
reactivation prompt in Office.

 

[Charles Kenyon]

So, call Microsoft and tell them what is happening and they will help you
activate it over the phone.
--
Charles Kenyon

Word New User FAQ & Web Directory: http://addbalance.com/word

Intermediate User's Guide to Microsoft Word (supplemented version of
Microsoft's Legal Users' Guide) http://addbalance.com/usersguide




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