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Someone on the Office boards said trash these 2 files:

~:Library:preferences:Microsoft:Office 2008:Microsoft Office 2008 Settings.plist

-and-

HD:Applications:Microsoft Office 2008:Office:OfficePID.plist

Not sure if you need to reboot afterwards.

-Kevin
Thanks a lot for this buddy. It worked great.
 
how do i get a new serial code? the one on my box is being used by others in my network????

the only one i can find online for mac 2008 microsoft office is already being used by someone else in my network

can anyone help?
 
how do i get a new serial code? the one on my box is being used by others in my network????

the only one i can find online for mac 2008 microsoft office is already being used by someone else in my network

can anyone help?

Either you didn't legally acquire your version of office, or someone stole your serial.

In the first instance, you should probably just buy the software if you do not want to encounter problems like this.

In the second instance, I have no idea what to do, but i have a feeling the first instance is more likely.....
 
This works!

Thanks for the info, Kevin! A friend of mine came across this issue and your instructions were spot-on. After deleting the "Microsoft" folder and the OfficePID.plist file, all she had to do was try to run Office 2008 and it asked her for the license key. So, good news is: she didn't have to uninstall/re-install Office 2008 to change the license key!

I used this method and it definetely works. Thanks guys for all your help!
 
Dude Help Me!!!! Kvincent24

i have the same operating system as u do. 10.5.2 how did u find the
Microsoft" at ~/Library/Preferences/

please tell me????
 
i have the same operating system as u do. 10.5.2 how did u find the
Microsoft" at ~/Library/Preferences/

please tell me????

It has been a long time since I did this. I think that I went to the root directory - which is what the ~ stands for, I think. Try this and let me know.
 
It has been a long time since I did this. I think that I went to the root directory - which is what the ~ stands for, I think. Try this and let me know.

~ is short for your home folder.

So the full path would be: /Users/username/Library/Preferences

-Kevin
 
If you want to remove the specific files that have to deal with the Office 2008 product key, run the following commands in your Terminal.

rm -rf ~/Library/Preferences/Microsoft/Office\ 2008/Microsoft\ Office\ 2008\ Settings.plist ; rm -rf /Applications/Microsoft\ Office\ 2008/Office/OfficePID.plist

Once you run this, the next time you launch a Office App, it will ask for a new product key.

Enjoy!
 
!!!????

NOTHING of this, works for me! I have tried everything you suggested!
It does ask for a new product key, but after Ive written the new product key, the old one seems to pop up, and the computer uses it. So the new product key is not registered.
 
NOTHING of this, works for me! I have tried everything you suggested!
It does ask for a new product key, but after Ive written the new product key, the old one seems to pop up, and the computer uses it. So the new product key is not registered.

You have to make sure that you are using the root directory, because the same thing was happening for me, and I thought I was using the root but in fact it was not.

Also I did it in Leopard and not Snow L, and if you have upgraded to snow they might have changed it.
 
hey guys.

There's a folder called "microsoft" at ~/library/preferences/

delete that folder, and then just reinstall office 2008. That preferences folder contains the file that stores your serial number, even if you uninstall office 2008. Just delete it and the install should work fine. I've done it a few times.

this helped me so much. Thank you!!!!
 
Sticky PID...

Hi,

Has anyone tried this recently? I've been trying to fix an installation of Office 2008 Mac for the last two days now. I have the Student & Teacher Edition, and mistakenly installed on two machines using the same serial number. Now, when I try reinstall on my mac with a new serial (using the above methods - either totally deleting or editing the two plist files), I initially get a new PID, but then on the first run of either Word or Excel, I get a "Office needs your admin password to continue" dialogue, and when I enter my p/word, the PID is changed back to the old (original) one - which being identical to the other mac on our network, then refuses us to run word simultaneously.

Anyone have a hint?

Thanks
 
Here's how in detail

DON'T UNINSTALL Microsoft Office 2008. JUST LEAVE IT THERE FIRST.

(1) In the Finder, select /Applications/Microsoft Office 2008/Office/OfficePID.plist
, and then on the File menu, click Move to Trash.

(2) Select /Users/yourusername/Library/Preferences/Microsoft/Office 2008/Microsoft Office 2008 settings.plist
, and then on the File menu, click Move to Trash.

(3) On the Apple menu, click Restart.

(4) After your computer restarts, open any Office 2008 application.

(5) The Office Setup Assistant opens.

(6) Accept the software license agreement, and then enter your valid product key.
Jesus Bless you!
 
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