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  #1  
Old 02-11-2014, 10:38 AM
Optiker Optiker is offline Office 2010 - Activation Problems? Windows 7 64bit Office 2010 - Activation Problems? Office 2010 64bit
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Default Office 2010 - Activation Problems?


I just bought a new copy of Office Pro 2010, 32 bit/x64, DVD for one computer. I bought from one of the Amazon marketplace sellers. When It arrived, it came with a CD, hand labeled in felt marker on the CD with the following: "Office Activation Support CD" and a printed text note taped to the CD sleeve that was clearly from the seller saying the software on the CD can be used if there is any problem activating the Office Pro 2010 software, and that instructions for activating using the CD software are included on the CD.

I have not yet either tried to read the supplemental CD, nor tried to install Office, in part because I'm a bit nervous.

Have there been problems in activating Office Pro 2010, or is all this an indication that this is not a new copy as advertised? Have I been taken by something too good to be true, so isn't?

The seller has a 5-star rating, but on only 9 sales. All rated him as 5-stars with comments consistent with that rating.

Thanks very much for any comments!

Optiker
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  #2  
Old 02-11-2014, 11:42 PM
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macropod macropod is offline Office 2010 - Activation Problems? Windows 7 32bit Office 2010 - Activation Problems? Office 2010 32bit
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Sounds like a pirated copy to me...

A Genuine Office Pro 2010, 32 bit/x64, DVD could be expected to come in a Genuine Microsoft DVD case, with the Product Key on the case. At the very least, a Genuine Microsoft Office 2010 DVD would have the Microsoft hologram, etc. and wouldn't need a 'supplemental CD'.
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Old 02-12-2014, 11:43 AM
Optiker Optiker is offline Office 2010 - Activation Problems? Windows 7 64bit Office 2010 - Activation Problems? Office 2010 64bit
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macropod...yes, in the correct box - cover over plastic snap case, all shrink wrapped, with Quick Start insert. Label with hologram and activation code on box, and label with product key on inside of the insert that faces outwards as the cover art for the package.

I would not expect the need for any homebrew supplemental software to activate.

Naturally, my concern is that it is not a legitimate original package...pirated or otherwise not "new".

Guess that unless yuou have other thoughts it will come down to trying it..right?

Thanks!
Optiker
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Old 02-12-2014, 01:12 PM
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Well, if it ticks all the right boxes re packaging, hologram etc, it most likely is genuine. And, if it's still shrink-wrapped, it's unlikely to have ever been used.
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Old 02-12-2014, 04:38 PM
Optiker Optiker is offline Office 2010 - Activation Problems? Windows 7 64bit Office 2010 - Activation Problems? Office 2010 64bit
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macropod...Thanks! That's encouraging. I guess that I'll fire up my old lap top that I have Linux installed on and check the supplemental CD on it to see what's on it. There is probably a text file explaining how to use the software, and if the utility is an exe file, it probably can't hurt a Linux system even if it's set to try to autorun.

Am I being paranoid or what!

Thanks again!
Optiker
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Old 02-18-2014, 10:54 AM
Optiker Optiker is offline Office 2010 - Activation Problems? Windows 7 64bit Office 2010 - Activation Problems? Office 2010 64bit
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macropod...if you're still checking this thread, I did take a look on the CD referenced above, using my Liknux system, and it turns out the utility on it is called KMSpico. I did a search and it looks like it's a free activation code manager. From what I read, it looked like a legitimate utility, and I didn't see anything about it that would suggest that it or the MS Ofice Pro that I bought would be a threat.

I haven't installed it yet since I've been holding on checking the CD, posting here, and waiting for a reply.

Any comments?

Thanks!
Optiker
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Old 02-18-2014, 02:01 PM
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I'd be inclined to install Office and not worry about the supplemental CD...
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Old 02-18-2014, 02:05 PM
Optiker Optiker is offline Office 2010 - Activation Problems? Windows 7 64bit Office 2010 - Activation Problems? Office 2010 64bit
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macropod...that's what I was thinking. Just checking to make sure there were no negative comments suggesting a threat. It's sounding like all is OK.

Thanks!
Optiker
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Old 02-20-2014, 06:21 PM
Optiker Optiker is offline Office 2010 - Activation Problems? Windows 7 64bit Office 2010 - Activation Problems? Office 2010 64bit
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macropod...I guess it's not over with!

I installed and all seemed to go OK until I tried to activate. It failed to activate online, so I tried by phone and it again failed. So, I reluctantly ran KMSpico that was on that supplemental CD. It ran without a hitch and replied that it was now activated.

However, I think even I could write and compile a simple BASIC program with a simple graphical interface where when I click on a button, it comes back and say that it's activated. Is there any way to tell if it actually activated, did nothing, or perhaps did something locally to actually "activate" Office so as to override any Office actions as if it was normally activated?

Thanks!
Optiker
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Old 02-20-2014, 11:37 PM
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This is starting to sound once more like a pirated version - or maybe an illegal attempt to sell copies of a multi-user version of Office that's only licenced for installations in a single corporation. It would be quite unusual for MS to refuse activation of a genuine product, either on-line or by telephone, unless all the installations permitted under the license had already been used.

What particular error messages did you get when trying the on-line & telephone activations?
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Old 02-22-2014, 08:09 AM
Optiker Optiker is offline Office 2010 - Activation Problems? Windows 7 64bit Office 2010 - Activation Problems? Office 2010 64bit
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macropod...I don't recall the exact message other than it failed to activate. The phone attempt also said something about the activation code not being found in the database...or at least that was my understanding, though the words might not be exact.

Any suggestion on how I might test to see if it's fully functional or is going to fail in some way sometime in the future...ie, revert to read-only? In the meantime I will be pursuing some action from the seller and also alert Amazon that I've received a possible illegal copy...not that I expect any help from Amazon.

Bummer! I guess I should have been more careful.

Thanks!
Optiker
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Old 02-22-2014, 08:25 PM
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I've done some searching of my own now and it appears KMSpico is a key generator designed to generate ostensibly valid keys for Microsoft Office or Windows when your copy isn't legitimate.

In other words, given that you couldn't register on-line or by phone but KMSpico supposedly did it for you (did you have to input the product key?), it looks like you've bought a pirated copy. Sorry to be the bearer of bad news, but you may have remedies available to you. As a first step, I suggest reporting the matter to Amazon and, if you paid via PayPal, their assistance in recovering your payment.
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Old 02-22-2014, 09:22 PM
Optiker Optiker is offline Office 2010 - Activation Problems? Windows 7 64bit Office 2010 - Activation Problems? Office 2010 64bit
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macropod...thanks for researching it. I have already contacted the seller through Amazon and asked that he explain all of this and provide acceptable evidence that this is a legal copy. He replied that he tries his best to assure that customers are satisfied and have a functional copy of the software, and that if I'm not satisfied, he will refund my money - no response regarding legal or not. I have also contacted Amazon customer service and explained the situation and they were surprisingly prompt and helpful. Since they are the middle man with emails between seller and buyer, they saw the exchange between the seller and I and were satisfied that I had recourse to a refund if I chose to take that option, but if I had any problem, they would enter into the situation and enforce their guarantee.

I have decided that a fully functional copy is not enough if it is not legal, so will request a refund and see how that goes. Hopefully, if the seller drags his feet, Amazon will do something to enforce it.

Thanks again for your help. I guess it's another of those "if it sounds too good to be true, it probably isn't". But this one was not so far out as to be unbelievable. Should have gone with my initial gut feel and passed.

I'll post back when it's all resolved.

Optiker
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Old 02-22-2014, 09:32 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Optiker View Post
I have decided that a fully functional copy is not enough if it is not legal
I, too, would be less than satisfied. Hopefully Amazon will shut down the seller's account. Quite apart from any legality & morality issues, users of such products always run the risk that MS (who, after all, could work out what product keys they've actually issued) will retrospectively invalidate any they haven't issued, regardless of whether they conform to the required algorithm. Bring on that day, I say! There'd soon be a stink if these keygen people started using valid keys owned by legit users...
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Old 02-22-2014, 10:57 PM
Optiker Optiker is offline Office 2010 - Activation Problems? Windows 7 64bit Office 2010 - Activation Problems? Office 2010 64bit
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Agree...thanks again!

Optiker
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