Authentication problems for Office 2010

Question

I have had this laptop for 16 months now and it came with Microsoft Word and Excel Starter 2010 already on the system. This morning i clicked on an Excel file on the desktop and it said i dont have the program to open this and took me to a screen that gave me 3 options - 1/ To activate office 2010 because i have purchased it already 2/ To purchase it and 3/ To try a trial version. Also the files are now a blank-looking bright orange symbol. I tried entering the authentication code that is on the sticker underneath the laptop and it says that it is not valid. 

However, if i click on Start and open MS Excel Starter 2010 and go to open i can open and amend any file. Say i saved that to the desktop though and double clicked it, it comes up with those 3 options again. However, again, i can access it through 'open' in Excel

Since having this issue i have installed updates that were waiting and i have done a system restore to yesterday - both changing nothing

Any idea how i can get this back to normal?

Answer 1

The Key on the label on the base of the PC is the win Key

In Programs & Features select MS Office 2010  click to run and uninstall it

Reboot

After which you may have to repair Office Starter

http://office.microsoft.com/en-us/starter-help/update-repair-or-uninstall-office-click-to-run-products-HA010382089.aspx

PS Storing/Saving data files to the desktop (unless they are shortcuts) us not a recommended place to store data

Answer 2

Just to add.......the sticker on the bottom says it is a certificate of authenticity and there are a few numbers as well as the Product Key and a couple of bar codes.

I have gone into add/remove programs and there is no trial version, just 2 things pertaining to MS office: Microsoft Office click to run 2010 and Microsoft office Starter 2010

Also i am not sure what you meant by it 'opening with a blank window'. When i click on the now-orange file icon for a word document (for e.g) it just opens up the Microsoft Window asking me to purchase, authenticate or trial Office

Answer 3

Any idea where my authentication key is for Office then seeing as it came pre-installed?

Also - there is no 'repair' option, only uninstall

Thanks for all the help so far but still no solution yet...........

Answer 4

This also happened to me yesterday and is still the case this morning. The Microsoft phone helpline is absolutely useless- have been cut off twice and the third time the Technician was not understandable, coming across as a very blurred sound where words were not distinguishable.

If I manage to 'uninstall' as advised by Palouk, how do I 'Reboot' - let alone 'repair Office Starter' ?

Answer 5

Hi,

As I understand you are unable to open Office applications saved on the computer as it prompts you to activate Office. Let me assist you with the issue.

The Product key on the bottom of the laptop might be for Windows operating system hence you receive an invalid produce key error. Also Microsoft Office program might have entered Reduced Functionality Mode (RFM) hence it opens with blank window. Follow the steps mentioned and check if it helps.

Check if you have any trial version of Office installed on the computer which has expired. If yes, then uninstall the trial Office program and check:

·         Close all the Office application.

·         Click on Start< Control Panel< Add or Remove programs.

·         In the programs list check if you have any Microsoft Office trial program installed.

·         If yes, highlight the trial program and click on Uninstall.

·         Once the uninstallation is complete reboot the system.

I hope the above suggestion helps. Let us know if you need any further assistance.

Thank you.