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HOW TO GET MICROSOFT OFFICE WORKING AGAIN

Margaret Bowcher 0 Reputation points
2026-02-23T09:28:23.7066667+00:00

I had Microsoft Office Home and Student 2016 DFO loaded on to my computer when purchased July 2018. I recently needed outlook and someone told me to download Microsoft 365 which I did. My files looked different so I immediately unistalled it. As a result I seem to have lost my microsoft office and my files will no longer open. I have proof of purchase but no product key as it was installed by Dell. I can see in my system files it still appears to be there but dont know how to activate it. Can you please help

Microsoft 365 and Office | Word | For home | Windows
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  1. Q&A Assist
    2026-02-23T09:28:33.4233333+00:00
    AI generated content. This question contains an answer created with AI from Q&A Assist. Learn more

    To get Microsoft Office Home and Student 2016 working again after uninstalling Microsoft 365, you can try the following steps:

    1. Check for Existing Installation: Since you mentioned that it still appears in your system files, try to locate the Office application (like Word or Excel) in your Start menu or applications folder.
    2. Repair Office: If you find the Office applications, you can try repairing the installation. Go to Control Panel > Programs > Programs and Features, find Microsoft Office Home and Student 2016, and select the option to repair.
    3. Activation: If the applications open but require activation, you may need to contact Dell for assistance since they installed it for you. They might be able to provide you with the product key or help you activate it.
    4. Reinstall Office: If you cannot repair it, consider reinstalling Office Home and Student 2016. You may need to download the installation files from Dell's support site or use recovery media if available.
    5. Check Your Microsoft Account: If you purchased Office through your Microsoft account, log in to your Microsoft account to see if you can find your product key or download link there.

    If you continue to face issues, you may want to reach out to Microsoft support for further assistance.

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