MS Office 2007 - "Exceeded license activations" - What the hell?!

So, I recently re-formatted my hard drive and cleaned up my laptop, as I usually do every couple of months to keep my system purring. When I installed Windows Office 2007 and tried to activate my software, I got the message, "This software has been activated the maximum number of times permitted for this license".

Now, this is a clean, legit copy of Office 2007 that I own, and it has been installed on my laptop only. Does anyone have any tips to get my software activations reset, because phone calls to Microsoft sure as hell aren't doing a damn thing...

 

According to Microsoft you can install in an unlimited amount of times, but they do say you need to check the EULA, right at the bottom Q18 has the answer, may be worth giving Microsoft a call and seeing what they say.

Frequently asked questions about the Office Activation Wizard and about reduced-functionality mode in 2007 Office programs and in Office 2010 programs

 

The OP might also want to re-think his 'strategy' of reinstalling just for the hell of it.

Unless you're a "hopeless screwup" (great use of the term by another member here), constantly reinstalling is not necessary with Windows 7. It may have been the easiest way to clean up an old XP system, but that kind of reasoning is well out of date and obsolete with Windows 7. Sometimes you just have to let go of old knowledge when it is no longer valuable.

Starting in March of this year, MSFT is keeping tabs on not just the use of TechNet subscription license keys, but ALL license keys. If your license keys get locked out for any reason, it takes a series of persistent phone calls to MSFT to get things unlocked.

 

Thanks for the info!

For the record, the system I am using is, in fact, Windows XP.

 

I am surprised calls to Microsoft have been unsuccessful. I have never had Microsoft turn me down and I have installed windows/office thousands of times over the years for clients.

On explaining that I am simply reinstalling office after a windows installation, they have always given me a new number.

What did they say?

 

They basically told me that I was SOL and there was nothing I could do. Based on what I've read here, I'm going to call back and pester them (using the FAQ that was pointed out earlier) until they reinstate my copy of Office.

 

I don't know if it would get you anywhere, but I would cite their own website in the link I provided earlier stating it says an unlimited amount of activations, also I would have a check of EULA, make sure there's no nasty surprises regarding activation in that.

 

So what is it exactly

The only time I had an issue is when someone's computer iwas working on had loaded a copy of office 2007 pro enterprise from work.

Every other time it was as easy as explaining I had reinstalled windows due to (fill in reason).

 

The other time I ran into it was when someone had loaded a friends copy of either a technet or msdn copy

 

Well, not sure how this happened, but I spoke to a very nice man and he hooked me up. All I had to do was give him my original CD key and he activated my product on the spot.

Thanks to all for the help! =)

 

Good stuff, glad you got it sorted.

 

Microsoft's customer service can actually be quite good. Surprising, i know...

 

You might consider imaging your harddrive now that it is a fresh install, then next time you want to reinstall you can restore the image to a new state. Not only will the software be activated, but you can avoid the hassle of reinstalling the apps you do every single time

I will image a new laptop when I am at a happy place (installed windows, office, and must have programs like adobe reader, java, etc). It saves a lot of time,

 

Can I get an "amen" brothers and sisters! Sage advice indeed.

Gary

P.S. just remember to backup your documents, music, videos, email storage etc. before you restore the image if they are all on the same partition as the OS and programs.