MS Office 2003/2007 & Purplus Software

[jillsy]

I have been using MS Office 2003 Pro Enterprise for the past 2 years. I was able to install, activate, and get updates without problems. Sudddenly yesterday, MS told me there were updates, ran the validation tool, and said my copy wasn't valid. They disabled my product key for install. I'm still able to use Offfice, but the "Activate Product" option is again active in the Help menus and I assume I can't update anymore or re-install if I reformat my HD at some point. Has anyone else had this happen? From what I've read, there's nothing I can do about it.

So if I decide to buy another copy of 2003 or move up to 2007, has anyone had experience buying from Purplus Software? They have some good prices on 2003 "Promo Pack" and 2007 Retail. I'm worried their prices are too good to be true, however, and I'll have the same problem now or eventually.

I bought my 2003 Office from eDirect Software and I'm aware they have since been shut down and sued by MS. I knew I was taking a chance at the time, but I got a really good price and have gotten 2 years out of the software. I just don't get how I could have activated in the first place if my copy was bad. It's scary how MS does things. I had to re-activate Vista by telephone just because I removed a driver. They're so rich; why do they have to be so paranoid and stingy?

Anyway, if anyone has any advice on what I should do, I'd really be grateful for it.

Thanks,
Jill

[shadowpr]

i'd probably call microsoft and inquire about it.

[mairving]

Originally Posted by jillsy I bought my 2003 Office from eDirect Software and I'm aware they have since been shut down and sued by MS. I knew I was taking a chance at the time, but I got a really good price and have gotten 2 years out of the software. I just don't get how I could have activated in the first place if my copy was bad. It's scary how MS does things. I had to re-activate Vista by telephone just because I removed a driver. They're so rich; why do they have to be so paranoid and stingy? Anyway, if anyone has any advice on what I should do, I'd really be grateful for it. Thanks, Jill

Well you can't blame Microsoft because they don't like people stealing their stuff. Usually a Enterprise product key is inactivated when it shows up on Warez sites or it is discovered to be used improperly. With Enterprise software they generally just provide one set of a media and one product key. They are required when they sell it (actually they aren't supposed to sell Enterprise in the way that they were) to take out a pay for a license. I suspect that they were selling it without taking out a license. So they apparently discovered that the copy was bad and then deactivated the key.

Microsoft will probably be able to get you reactivated at a nominal charge if you call them.

[jillsy]

Thanks for the advice. I don't blame MS for not wanting their stuff stolen. I just don't care for the fact that their latest stuff (Vista, Office 2007) is coming out with such strict requirements. As I said, I deleted one driver and it caused my Vista to be deactivated. I asked the tech when I called if this is normal and he confirmed it is. He said that if I change anything - put in a new graphics card, etc. - I will have to call and re-activate every time. Now I think that is a bit ridiculous. I have better things to do with my time. I am not looking to steal anything or get involved in piracy. I do try to save money by purchasing OEM and CD-only versions of software.

I realize I took a chance on the Office 2003 copy I purchased, but I read various horror stories of people who bought retail copies of Office at merchants such as Best Buy, installed and activated, and then somewhere down the road MS said ther copy wasn't valid and disabled it. They claim even a receipt wouldn't help. If these stories are true, then that is a ripoff.

I will likely call MS to see what they say. Also, does anyone have experience with Purplus Software? They claim all their software is legit and I haven't seen any bad reports about them thus far (piracy, etc.) as can be found regarding other merchants like eDirect. They are a Yahoo merchant and I've had good luck purchasing from Yahoo merchants over the years. I did purchase a copy of PC-cillin from Purplus a few months ago and it installed and registered properly. If anyone has heard of them being involved in questionable activities, please let me know.

Thanks,
Jill

[mairving]

Don't know much about Purplus but ResellerRatings rates them pretty good.

[jillsy]

Thanks so much for the link, mairving. That makes me feel a lot better about shopping with them.

Jill