Re-Using Office Product Key

Hi, I recently purchased a new laptop for school. My old laptop crapped out. However, I had installed Office XP Pro V.2002(which I purchased at store) on it(the old laptop) .
When I go to install Office onto my new laptop, input the product key, it says I have installed on too many computers (1 I guess is too many). It gives me 49 more runs till it will make me activate.

In order to reuse the product key, do i have to uninstall office from the old laptop? Is there any way at all to re-use the product key on the new laptop?

I read in another forum to call microsoft to get another key, but there was also talk of $30. No thanks.

Any help would be greatly appreciated. Thanks in advance

 

Just call Microsoft and explain the situation, as they will understand that you are transferring all your software to a new computer (and the old one died). That message appears only after you have installed and activated the suite multiple times. In my experience, as long as you are honest with them, they will do what you need.

 

You are perfectly well within your rights to install it on a new machine as long as you don't have it installed on both. I think the Teacher $ Student version is allowed to be installed on three machines.