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Where do I find the 25 character Product Key that Excel is asking for?

Anonymous
2011-12-23T01:21:54+00:00

Brand new computer received as a gift over a year ago, already had Windows 7 Home Premium 64-bit installed.  No Windows disk was included in the original packaging.  Trying to use Excel (and presumably Word, etc.) brings up a dialogue box asking for 25 character Product Key.  The dialogue box asking for the Key is labelled "Microsoft Office Home and Student 2007."

Original packaging has an emachines sticker on it with several important pieces of identifying info on it.  However, nothing is identified as a Product Key, and nothing is 25 characters long.  The nearest thing is a 22 character string labelled "S/N:"  Other items are labelled SNID, EAN, UPC, Model and P/N.  Non are 25 characters, and none seem specific to Excel, Word, Office, etc.

Could not locate an Excel "Product Key" anywhere else inside the original packaging (or Word, or Office, or anything else.)

Microsoft 365 and Office | Excel | For home | Windows

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Anonymous
2011-12-23T06:04:30+00:00

Windows 7 Home Premium is the "Operating System". It has nothing to do with Office.

The version of Office apps you are running clearly belong to a time limited "free" trial. That is why they are asking for the product key. If you look at the computer case it will probably have a sticker with a Windows product key on it.

Unless you explicitly paid for MS Office, you don't have it. 

As well, since MS no longer sells Office 2007, you wil have to buy a copy of Office 2010. Make sure to uninstall the 2007 trial before installing the 2010 copy you buy.

Here are a bunch of links intended to help identify bootleg copies, but they also will give you an idea of what to look for, just in case you do have a legitimate copy of Office. You are looking for the Product Key or Certificate of Authenticity.

Office 2010 Product Key Card FAQ - https://office.microsoft.com/en-us/buy/office-product-key-card-frequently-asked-questions-HA101847520.aspx

How to avoid Buying Bootleg copies online - http://www.eweek.com/c/a/Security/10-Holiday-Shopping-Tips-to-Avoid-Buying-Pirated-Software-351045/?kc=EWWHNEMNL12142011STR6

Microsoft Office 2010 Product Key and license Photo– How to find them? -http://techblissonline.com/microsoft-office-2010-product-key-and-license/

When you install or reinstall a Microsoft Office 2010 suite, you are prompted to type or to paste the 25-character product key. The product key is used during the Microsoft software installation to unlock the Microsoft Office suite. If you do not enter the product key when you are prompted, the suite may be locked. In a locked state, the functionality of the applications will be limited.

How to Tell if it Windows7/Office 2010 you bought is Authentic in pictures -http://www.microsoft.com/howtotell/

fake - What is a Windows Certificate of Authenticity (COA)? - How to Tell What Win and Office COA look like PHOTO- http://www.microsoft.com/howtotell/content.aspx?pg=coa&displaylang=en

2007 Microsoft Office Suites License Designations - 2007 Product key images -https://office.microsoft.com/en-us/products/2007-microsoft-office-suites-license-designations-HA101819164.aspx

Office 2003 OEM COA photo - http://www.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://www.discount-software.ws/discount-software-images/office-2003-small-business-edition-oembk.jpg&imgrefurl=http://www.discount-software.ws/microsoft/office-2003-small-business-edition-oem.html&usg=\_\_UWwRE4eHpecLQJfV-YSf1773SCc=&h=593&w=570&sz=54&hl=en&start=18&zoom=1&itbs=1&tbnid=Pb-0LUqYcEyyRM:&tbnh=135&tbnw=130&prev=/images%3Fq%3Doffice%2B2003%2Boem%2Bcertificate%2Bof%2Bauthenticity%26hl%3Den%26sa%3DG%26gbv%3D2%26tbs%3Disch:1&ei=oANMTZOWCsL98Ab1iKGyDg

Fake Office 2010 Product Key Photo - http://techblissonline.com/microsoft-office-2010-product-key-and-license/

Fake Office 2010 package photos - http://stores.ebay.com/DAVAD-TECHNOLOGY-LIMITED/Fake-Microsoft-Office-2010.html

Fake- How to Tell if your software is Real - www.microsoft.com/howtotell/

Fake- Video demonstrating Bogus Win7 features - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hzqNNiOM0cs

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  1. Anonymous
    2011-12-23T03:37:26+00:00

    If I recall correctly, (I don't have the box handy), when you open the box in which the Office CD's were packaged, the serial number should be attached to the plastic on the inside.  You have to open the box in order to see the sticker.

    It may also be the case that only a trial version was installed on the original machine.  So you may have to check with eMachines about that.

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  2. Anonymous
    2011-12-23T11:29:31+00:00

    The win disk is not included because there is a hidden recovery partition that you have to access following your PC makers instructions to create the recovery disk set. If you didnt do this do it NOW!

    The version of office installed was likely a trial version, which has now expired, and you are being instructed to enter the product key that you will have purchased, if you wish to continue using MS Office.

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