A few weeks ago, I've run into an issue where I reformatted my end user's computer and went on to activate Microsoft Office 2010 but it didn't go so well. After I entered my license key, I received and error that the application suite could not be activated. I will share with you how to overcome this hurdle below.
How did Windows explode this time? Microsoft told me that:
Lucky for me, the world didn't end there. What I did was simply bypass Microsoft's silly activation wizard...did things the "old school" way.
Step 1: Open the Command Prompt
- Click Start
- Search for CMD
- Right click on "CMD" application
- Choose "Run as Administrator"
Step 2: Change to the Office14 directory because the Command Prompt will start in the System32 directory (C:\Windows\System32\)
- Type cd .. and press the Enter key to go back one directory and chance to C:\Windows directory
- Type cd .. and press the Enter key again to go back another directory and change to C:\ directory ("root of C)
- Type cd "Program Files" and press the Enter key to change to C:\Program Files directory ("Program Files (x86)" if you're using 32-bit MS Office on a 64-bit Windows 7 installation)
- Type cd "Microsoft Office" and press the Enter key to change to C:\Program Files\Microsoft Office directory
- Type cd "Office14" and press the Enter key to change to C:\Program Files\Microsoft Office\Office14 directory
Step 3: Run the "Office Software Protection Platform" script
- Type CScript OSPP.vbs /act and press the Enter key to run the activation script manually
Step 4: Close the Command Prompt
- Type exit and press the Enter key
Step 5: Close MS Office Word and re-open the application for the changes to take effect
Step 6: Choose how you want to Help Protect and Improve Microsoft Office. I usually only opt to Install Updates Only.
Voila! Your MS Office application suite is activated...now you can start to do the same things you could have done on Google Docs (for FREE) but using bloatware that cost you between $174.00 and $499.00, depending on which suite you chose: Home and Student vs. Professional