Paul,

The software is correctly licensed and I do have the installation key. I just don't have the media. More to the point, it's the MS Office username and password that I don't know. the Detect and repair window that opens says I will lose my username (and I assume password). I would then be in a worse position, as at the moment I can at least use Word and Excel when the internet is working.

Do you have any idea why I am suddenly being asked to validate? The message reads "You must activate your MS Office Prof. Edition 2003 installation to function properly with the recent changes made to your computer hardware". (My italics.) I absolutely have not changed anything about the computer. I don't even know how to take the cover off.