I've bought the Office 2021 license, and I'm trying to install it. The installation instructions read, among other things, the following:
"Once you run your office apps for the first time, you will be prompted to enter the key, use the key you have purchased from us."
I never get the popup to enter the product key. Instead, I always get the Activation Wizard window (see attached). Activation always fails if I try to use this window. I reinstalled Windows 11 and downloaded Office to ensure that nothing in the PC was causing this issue.
I bought this license for an HP EliteDesk 705, but I'm unable to install it.


However, if I download Office onto another PC, an Acer Aspire A515, I get the Enter your product key popup. I've never gone any further with the activation since it is not the PC where I want Office.
It seems that there is something fishy with the HP EliteDesk. There are two things that might hypothetically cause a problem.
- EliteDesk does not support TMP 2.0, and I had to use a workaround to install Windows 11 for the first time. But not to reinstall Windows 11.
- I tried to install Office for the first time some days ago, but the product key I used was rejected. Office somehow remembers this incident and keeps telling me how many free trial days are left, starting from this initial activation attempt. It might be the cause of the problem, but I cannot get rid of it, even though I reinstalled Windows from scratch, cleaned the disc, and am not using the configuration saved in OneDrive.
What is wrong with the HP EliteDesk? Or with my installation procedure?

Attached Images

Activation Wizard.png (21.2 KB, 9 views)

My only two thoughts:
1) your anti-malware prevents contact to Microsoft (turn it off temporarily);
2) you probably need a clean installation of Office (use MS uninstallation tool, can be found at Option 2 of this page at LINK)

Thank you. The problem is solved. I opened your link and found the section "Uninstall Microsoft 365 for your installation type". I followed it and uninstalled Office in Settings->Apps. Then I used the installation instructions supplied by the seller and everything worked fine.

Well, you can always activate by telephone. Most of the times there is a Toll-free number but it takes some time and needs attention.
Anyway, when something goes wrong I prefer to download the MS's uninstall tool and go straight through with it since it will uninstall bundle and demo Office preinstallations too.
Glad having been of some help.