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1241694
October 29th, 2015 08:00
Cannot activate Office 2016
I purchased Office Home & Student 2016 with my Dell laptop.
When I follow the instructions to activate it, I end up at the Microsoft store and it says my product key is not associated with my Microsoft account. Of course not, I bought it through Dell, not Microsoft...
Any suggestions how to solve this?
Many thanks in advance.
Gerry
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dnitschke
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May 1st, 2016 16:00
Try checking the packaging of the laptop, if you still have it.
Below, Gerry suggested calling Dell support with Express Service Code and Service Tag. When I went back to the box the laptop came in to look for the code and tag, I found a little plastic zip-lock envelope with a bright red sticker saying "Important Information! - Do Not Discard". Inside is a little booklet labeled "Office Home & Student 2016 Product Activation".
I tried following those instructions which said to "Enter your 25-character Product Key as shown on back and follow the on-screen instructions." However, the number on the back IS NOT the product key and trying to enter it didn't get me very far. I finally found the right key on a very colorful sticker ON THE NEXT TO LAST PAGE of the little booklet partially hidden by a scratch-off label.
Bottom line: Check the packaging from the laptop. Then if you find the envelope with the activation key, look for the key, not on the back of the booklet, but on a sticker one or two pages in from the back of the booklet. Hope this helps. Thanks for Gerry's posts which finally got me going.
sugarbear18
2.3K Posts
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October 29th, 2015 17:00
Hi GerryDanen,
I can see your post.
cbhbrealty
2 Posts
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October 30th, 2015 08:00
I am having the exacty same issue. New XPS 13, office 2016 purchased with it.
GerryDanen
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6 Posts
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October 30th, 2015 15:00
Ended up calling Dell support, and 35 minutes later, a new activation key will be sent.
Make sure to have your Express Service Code and your Service Tag handy.
Mary G
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20.1K Posts
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October 30th, 2015 16:00
The MS acct for Office is not necessarily your own Microsoft Account for signing into win 10. You have to set up the acct at the office site. The correct site to activate is not the Store. It is here--
https://products.office.com/en-us/download-back-up-restore-microsoft-office-products
RogerDog
5 Posts
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November 5th, 2015 09:00
I am having the same issue and after 30 minutes of the worst hold music in history, Dell is sending me a new activation product key - but I have to snail mail back the old one before I get the new one so its going to take at least one week before I can use the software that I purchased with my new Dell XPS 15 that I need to use right away. Seems like a major screwup between Dell and Microsoft.
Doesn't seem like it should be that hard in 2015 to activate software that one specifically purchased from Dell from Microsoft and was supposed to be loaded onto the computer. Sets me back at work.
cbhbrealty
2 Posts
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November 5th, 2015 09:00
Rather than contacting Dell, I called Microsoft, who told me they were aware of the issue of Dell shipping Product Keys that are already used. They assigned a new product key to my MS account and I was able to continue the office install.
RogerDog
5 Posts
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November 5th, 2015 09:00
This did not work for me. Sent me to an endless loop in MS office site. Dell is having to send a new product activation key.
dublinireland
1 Message
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November 10th, 2015 10:00
Got my new laptop today. software product key a dud. rang dell. they are to send out a new product key in the next 3-5 working days. not good.
petervanoevelen
1 Message
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November 11th, 2015 23:00
I am having the same issue with the Home & business 2016 - that I need to do my job
does not seem to be an isolated case - unacceptable !!! (are they pushing us back to Mac ???)
emilyfinn
5 Posts
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November 13th, 2015 00:00
I am having the same issue. I started up my new dell laptop, clicked on the Microsoft app, it said try buy or activate so I clicked activate and entered y product key. It took me online where my account didn't recognise it.
What phone numbers did you use to get this sorted, I'm having difficulty getting anyone to understand my issue over the phone?
emilyfinn
5 Posts
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November 13th, 2015 01:00
I am having the same issue with my new dell laptop. I click on the office app and choose activate and eneter product key. this then takes me to account online and it doesn't recognise 2016.
what phone numbers did you use? I'm struggling to get anyone on the phone who understands my issue
emilyfinn
5 Posts
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November 14th, 2015 03:00
having the same issue. what phone number did you ring to contact dell please? I'm UK
emilyfinn
5 Posts
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November 14th, 2015 08:00
thanks, I have found a technical support number but they seem to charge a lot which is annoying. anyone else UK and know of a number I could call?
GerryDanen
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November 14th, 2015 08:00
The Tech Support number. I am in Canada, so you need to find your UK number.