ok i got a new computer a couple months ago and the microsftr office was just a trial apparently. is that right? now i cant use word excel all those. which product key do i use. i used all that i had and none work??? help
travman 0 Light Poster
Recommended Answers
Jump to Postthat is for linux i think that he is using some version of windows os. I would definitley say if you want it fro free openoffice.org is the way to go.
Jump to PostI would suggest you so for the Star Office suite as it has got all the MS Office main features word, excel, access, powerpoint etc. It is free to download from their website. Bit of a handful to download though as the file is big but for saving a lot …
Jump to Postopen office is free and is almost exactly the same as staroffice
Jump to PostAs someone posted above to pay for Star Office, i think they got it wrong somewhere cos i had it for free. I ll also give open office a shot as well.
Raj
Jump to PostNow i m paranoid cos i m pretty sure i downlaoded star office from SUn and it was for free. But i ll check at home what m i using exactly.
Raj
All 38 Replies
mikeandike22 18 Nearly a Posting Virtuoso
i think it is against forum rules to ask that question for that is illegal
DMR 152 Wombat At Large Team Colleague
Are you absolutely sure that you didn't get a product key somewhere in the paperwork that came with the computer?
If the Office package was truly a trial version, and the trial time has expired, you will have to pay to either get a key to unlock your version or get a fully-functional version.
If you have no key and are asking for one, mikenandike22 already answered that question- we don't allow any discussion of hacks, cracks, or warez here.
DaveSW 15 Master Poster
it sounds more like it is an oem copy that hasn't been activated. There should be a phone number to ring or a website to visit in order to activate it.
Office XP only opens 30 (ish) times before you are forced to activate.
DMR 152 Wombat At Large Team Colleague
it sounds more like it is an oem copy that hasn't been activated. There should be a phone number to ring or a website to visit in order to activate it.
Yeah, that's why I suggested that travman double-check the stuff that came with the computer. It's a bit of a pain the way a lot of machines come configured- you get 8 million pre-installed apps, but since you rarely get CDs for those apps (which is where you'd normally find the product key stamped), you have to snuffle through a pile of booklets, leaflets, and whatnot to find all the keys, or log onto a bunch of sites and go through the online registration processes. Bit of a bummer in my book...
travman 0 Light Poster
well i didnt wana do anything illegal but i found the certificate of authenticity and it said trial after office sooooo. is that normal to get a trialk copy of office??
Catweazle 140 Grandad Team Colleague
It's rather obscene, in my view, for a vendor to include a trial version of Office. It's costs the same amount to convert it to a fully functional version, and it can be a messy job to convert. You have two options:
- Uninstall the trial version, buy a full retail version and install that.
- Uninstall the trial version, download OpenOffice http://www.openoffice.org and use that instead!
DMR 152 Wombat At Large Team Colleague
It's rather obscene, in my view, for a vendor to include a trial version of Office.
Agreed, but unfortunately vendors are indeed starting to do that. It's all about cost-cutting and "carrot dangling".
mikeandike22 18 Nearly a Posting Virtuoso
yes i have used openoffice it is the same to use the only dislike is that it loads slowly but for free i dont mind
travman 0 Light Poster
can word open openoffice documents for when i have to open things on another computer?? casue $150 for office is a lot
mikeandike22 18 Nearly a Posting Virtuoso
yes you just have to save the document in either doc format or rich text format
mikeandike22 18 Nearly a Posting Virtuoso
It has things like powerpoint and excel too and you can save those documents to be opened on another computer using the microsoft office products
Catweazle 140 Grandad Team Colleague
OpenOffice can read and create documents in MS Office file formats.
It's not 100% compatible but it's not far from it. In fact it's only advanced macros that really differ.
travman 0 Light Poster
wait got powerpoint and excel like things too??? if so screw microsoft i doin openoffice
Catweazle 140 Grandad Team Colleague
It includes word processor, spreadsheet, presentation software, and graphics software. Used in conjuction with Mozilla, it provides an almost complete suite of office software, and if you purchase the inexpensive retail version (Sun StarOffice) you get a database application as well.
It has almost complete file compatibility with MS Office, and it can also natively write documents in PDF or Flash format, which is somthing that Office can't do!
A Monkeys Uncle 0 Junior Poster
Go grab SOT Office 2003, it's a free program and does everything Office does I believe. If you need any help send me a pm, I'll direct you to the right place ;)
A Monkeys Uncle 0 Junior Poster
mikeandike22 18 Nearly a Posting Virtuoso
that is for linux i think that he is using some version of windows os. I would definitley say if you want it fro free openoffice.org is the way to go.
DMR 152 Wombat At Large Team Colleague
that is for linux...
I haven't used it myself, but their website does say:
"SOT Office is a free productivity suite for Windows and Linux."
travman 0 Light Poster
yea i got windows xp
mikeandike22 18 Nearly a Posting Virtuoso
that place is just selling things like sot and openoffice for a dollar so you can have it on a cd.
bridgey 0 Newbie Poster
I just bought a computer and it had the Microsoft Office package 60 day trial package installed on my computer too. When ever I try to open Works, it wants the 25 digit product key on the trial version cd. The problem is, I can't find any cd like that with my things. I called a customer support hotline and they told me to contact microsoft or another person about it and they would help me.
You'd need to buy the real one in 60 days anyways because it would have froze up.
One good news is that the store I bought my computer from included a $40 off Microsoft Works suite coupon which drops the price nicely.
Catweazle 140 Grandad Team Colleague
The advice you were given is incorrect. If a PC comes with preinstalled software and no accompanying full product CD, then it is the system manufacturer or assembler who is responsible for software support, not Microsoft!
As a matter of fact, 'Trial products' supplied directly by Microsoft are not accompanied by any form of product support whatsoever in any case.
So it's the people who sold you the PC who are responsible for ensuring that any included software is supplied in a workable state.
mikeandike22 18 Nearly a Posting Virtuoso
It could be on a cd that has multiple things on it so it could be on a list on the side of the cd. On my works suite package all the cds are in one orange box and the product key is on the back on a little sticker.
#tbone 1 Light Poster
if you go to college or know anyone who does i know that you can get student discounts on stuff. im at college and get office xp for 15 bucks and xp pro for 30.
you need a student id card to do it.
#tbone
DuncanIdaho 2 Unverified User
Think they'd take a student ID from the 'School Of Hard Knocks'? No fair, cause I'm old, and STILL learning, thanks to MS changing stuff all the time. I should get the discount, too. :p
LeniceY 0 Newbie Poster
Microsoft does give you an opportunity to "order" a new product key here: http://www.microsoft.com/office/trialkey/default.mspx
Our office lost documentation and it only took a minute or two to get the new trial key. You do have to enter personally identifying contact information such as an address, email address, phone number. Hope this helps!
jbennet 1,618 Most Valuable Poster Team Colleague Featured Poster
new product key eh....
do you know if they supply new windows cds? i have a full copy of xp with COA and key but lost the CD
DimaYasny 180 Godmode enabled Team Colleague Featured Poster
just as I was about to say "go for OpenOffice".. :)
babycat 0 Newbie Poster
I need to download power point. But I do not know how. Help Me Please.
Babycat
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