Subscribe

Get the Network Administrators tool pack

Subscribe to our newsletter and get 11 free network administrator tools, plus a 30 page user guide so you can get the most out of them.

Click Here to get your free tools

Recent Posts

Search

Archives

Reset your Microsoft Office 2003 Serial Number

by Steve Wiseman on August 21, 2007 · 4 comments

in Windows


.

From time to time I will come across a machine that has a pirated office serial number. Microsoft checks your serial number before allowing you to download updates for Windows, and Office.

Microsoft Office Serial Number Change

The problem is that there is no way within office to just update your serial number (With a legitimate one) without uninstalling, and reinstalling the software.

Since I started getting tired of looking at progress bars I researched to see if there was a way to update it without the reinstall…and it turns out it is actually not too hard.

You simply need to drill down to this registry key (As always backup your registry before messing with it):

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Office\11.0
\Registration\{90110407-6000-11D3-8CFE-0150048383C9}

See the two values: ProductID, and DigitalProductID? Delete them.

Now run launch any office application, and you will be prompted for the new serial number.

Microsoft Office Serial Number Change Form

Now you can update the serial without waiting through a re-install.

One more thing…Subscribe to my newsletter and get 11 free network administrator tools, plus a 30 page user guide so you can get the most out of them. Click Here to get your free tools

Related Articles:

{ 4 comments… read them below or add one }

1 Jim June 23, 2010 at 4:09 pm

thanks – i knew it was in there and generically ‘how’ but not the specific location or names – worked like a charm

2 hadeel March 4, 2012 at 10:22 am

thank you for helping me i was really worried that i may cant install it !

3 Markus October 18, 2012 at 5:38 am

Very useful hint – thanks alot!
Pretty helpful when doing an unattended installation of non-enterprise versions of Office 2003. Just install the program using any valid key and let the Custom Installation Wizard delete the both regitry entries right after the installation. The first started Office application will then ask you for a valid key.

However it should be mentioned, that the GUID in the example above ({90110407-6000-11D3-8CFE-0150048383C9}) may be different depending on the Office version you use! E.g. the one above is for Office Professional Enterprise Edition 2003, if you use a different version the key will be slightly different.
See KB832672 on support.microsoft.com

Cheers — Markus

4 Markus October 18, 2012 at 5:41 am

Also in 64-bit Windows 7 the regitry key begins with
SOFTWARE\Wow6432Node\Microsoft\Office\11.0\Registration\

Leave a Comment

Category Links - Windows Forum - Exchange Forum