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kymac

macrumors 6502a
Original poster
Nov 4, 2006
677
0
portland
so i have office mac installed on two macs, but i didnt keep track of which serial numbers i used, and if i want to install it on another mac, i dont know what serial number to enter. is there a way to check on the computers?
 
Click on the "Word" menu, then "About Word"...the Product ID number should be on that screen. Works in any of the Office apps.
 
so i have office mac installed on two macs, but i didnt keep track of which serial numbers i used, and if i want to install it on another mac, i dont know what serial number to enter. is there a way to check on the computers?

I never had to enter a serial number when I installed Office:Mac on my system... are you sure there is one you have to enter. Maybe you are thinking of the Microsoft Product Key which the app generates itself when you install it.
 
I never had to enter a serial number when I installed Office:Mac on my system... are you sure there is one you have to enter. Maybe you are thinking of the Microsoft Product Key which the app generates itself when you install it.

Office for mac has a product key.
 
When you install it, it generates a unique ID. This number is different than the serial number, which I can't seem to find within the app itself. I just write it all down.
 
Thats funny, I ran into the same problem at home a couple weeks ago. Unfortunately, I had to uninstall all 3 copies, and reinstall all 3 copies again, each time using a different serial number. If anyone has any better ideas, please let us know for the future! :)
 
Then why was I never asked for one? Honestly, never had to last time I installed it (which was months ago... i'm not even bothering anymore now that I have iWork 08)

because it generates it all on its own when you install it. It doesn't ask you, it tells you. This is not the serial number.
 
because it generates it all on its own when you install it. It doesn't ask you, it tells you. This is not the serial number.

I misunderstood the guy that quoted me. I had already mentioned the Product Key, so I just jumped straight to the word key in his response. I know about the Product Key that the app generates. I was inquiring about Office:Mac requiring a Serial Number (required for installation) because I had never encountered that necessity.
 
I misunderstood the guy that quoted me. I had already mentioned the Product Key, so I just jumped straight to the word key in his response. I know about the Product Key that the app generates. I was inquiring about Office:Mac requiring a Serial Number (required for installation) because I had never encountered that necessity.

Sorry for the confusion but yes office:mac has a serial number thats needed for installs.
 
I misunderstood the guy that quoted me. I had already mentioned the Product Key, so I just jumped straight to the word key in his response. I know about the Product Key that the app generates. I was inquiring about Office:Mac requiring a Serial Number (required for installation) because I had never encountered that necessity.

hmm well i have the student / home version and it allows you to legally install it on three computers so it gives you three serial numbers to enter when you install. and if two have the same serial number you cant open them both at the same time so thats why im curious to find out how to tell which ones ive used.
 
Hi,

Did you find out how to obtain the serial number ? I just want to see :)

Thanks,
Eduardo



hmm well i have the student / home version and it allows you to legally install it on three computers so it gives you three serial numbers to enter when you install. and if two have the same serial number you cant open them both at the same time so thats why im curious to find out how to tell which ones ive used.
 
Product Key Or Serial Number I'm confused

Hi Guys I seem to be having a similar problem. I have installed Office on 2 macs but they are telling me they are using the same serial number and therefore cannot work contemporary. Problem is cover of the disc has 3 product keys and that is all. Upon installation I'm not asked for any numbers just shows me one, so how do I go about changing one of them, I am totally confused. When i remove and re install it doesn't give me an option to change the serial number or type in a different product key. Can anyone shed any light on this problem for me.
Thanks Amanda xx :eek:
 
Hi Guys I seem to be having a similar problem. I have installed Office on 2 macs but they are telling me they are using the same serial number and therefore cannot work contemporary. Problem is cover of the disc has 3 product keys and that is all. Upon installation I'm not asked for any numbers just shows me one, so how do I go about changing one of them, I am totally confused. When i remove and re install it doesn't give me an option to change the serial number or type in a different product key. Can anyone shed any light on this problem for me.
Thanks Amanda xx :eek:

the first step you should do is probably check on the other mac's product key, you can do this by opening mac word and then click on 'word' then 'about word'

if that fails just follow the instructions here:
http://www.microsoft.com/mac/help.m...cd-4c82-a163-bd35845b8ddc1033&CTT=RelatedLink
 
more info from Microsoft on Office: mac 2008

rpns was correct, but here is some additional info... this way, you can try a couple times if need be.

http://bit.ly/9nxukH

Remove and reenter the Office 2008 product key

If your copy of Office 2008 was installed with an invalid product key sequence of 25 letters and numbers. During installation, you must enter the product key to activate Office. The product key sticker is located on the back of the installation CD sleeve or case., or if you mistakenly used the same product key to install Office 2008 on more than one computer, you must remove the invalid product key and enter a valid product key to use Office 2008.

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/username/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. The Office Setup Assistant opens.

5. Accept the software license agreement, and then enter your valid product key.


The product key is located on the back of the Office 2008 for Mac DVD sleeve or on the back of the Install Guide.
 
MS Office 2011 - Product Key Issue

I'm only posting this because I just encountered this issue and a web search brought me here. I registered before, but I think I used an e-mail no longer in existence and I can't find my password... so I'm a re-newbie. :D

I was running an MBPro and picked up a 2009 iMac 27". Decided to send it back because it was too slow... So I backed up using TM and then migrated all my data back to my MBPro. MS Office 2011 being one of the apps. All was working fine until I picked up my 2011 iMac 27" - this sucker is fast. I'm extremely happy. I re-migrated my data to this iMac and when launching MS Office 2011 it asked for a product key. I don't have a product key... it was preinstalled...

After several dead ends I decided to snoop around my preferences on my MBPro. I copied these 3 files into the preferences folder on my new iMac and re-launced MS Office 2011 and it loaded just fine. Asked if I wanted regular updates and to register... no... no... and then Congratulations...

com.microsoft.office.licensing.plist
com.microsoft.office.licensing.plist.lockfile
com.microsoft.PlayReady.plist

I'm not sure if this will be a permanent fix until after I reboot my iMac, but as temp fix - it definitely works. What I noticed is that on the iMac when I go to About Excel it pulls up the Product ID now, but under the user it says Unknown.

I just figured I'd share my findings with the forum as I've added greatly to my knowledge of troubleshooting goodness from this board. This is my way of saying thanks!
 
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