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.
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.
Now you can update the serial without waiting through a re-install.
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thanks – i knew it was in there and generically ‘how’ but not the specific location or names – worked like a charm