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Office for Mac code after SSD change?

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Peter Franks

macrumors 68020
Original poster
Jun 9, 2011
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I've cloned hard drive so didn't expect to get asked for that, but when I found the code from original install of it, the format is completely different to what they're asking for now, and I can't get into it?
I have 5 numbers followed by dash then 3 numbers before next dash, but they're showing 5 dash 5 dash 5 dash etc/ etc.. so not sure what I can do. Any clues?
 
Peter Franks said:
I've cloned hard drive so didn't expect to get asked for that, but when I found the code from original install of it, the format is completely different to what they're asking for now, and I can't get into it?
I have 5 numbers followed by dash then 3 numbers before next dash, but they're showing 5 dash 5 dash 5 dash etc/ etc.. so not sure what I can do. Any clues?
Click to expand...
Could what you have be a PIN instead of the product key (5 groups of 5 digits)? There is (or at least used to be) a way to get that from the PIN, through Microsoft.
 
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Thanks, no. Just checked the screen grab from when I installed as well as the written down in the box with CDs, and it's definitely 5 then 3, and this option that comes up is 5 5 5 5... so did try the live chat with Microsoft, and I don't have to tell you how well that went.
 
Hey Lunder, thanks. Old hard drive yep, but here's where you lose me, It's Office for Mac 2011

The original ID was '5 - 3 - 7 - 5' characters.

And the option that came up for the code was the '5 5 5 5 5'
But when I used it to test from the external, this didn't come up and it worked, but when installed in the MBP it's locked it.

Actually surprised it works, as Roaring Apps said it wasn't sure it is compatible with El Cap.

Maybe it's expired and they won't let me use it now?
 
Last edited:
Your "original ID", with 5-3-7-5 characters is the MS product ID, and is not the same as your product key.
I am pretty sure the product ID is generated when you first input the product key.
Get that key from your original install media, or the download ISO that you originally used to install Office.
And, that product key will be the 5 sets of 5 characters. Any other sequence is not the product key, and is not useful to you.
Microsoft SHOULD be able to provide you with a replacement product key, and might do that if you give them your product ID (the 5-3-7-5 sequence code that you see), or probably your original email when you purchased the Office iso online from Microsoft, or again, the install media if you purchased from a shop.
You have, somewhere, that cute little sticker, with the hologram, which is Microsoft's COA, and THAT will have the product key. Again, 5 sets of 5 characters. Anything other than that, is not the product key.
 
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Thanks Delta, I've looked in the box, and for some reason that's what I had written down
I'll see what the discs bring up. I also screen grabbed the numbers I'd written down so assumed that was it. Yet another mistake in my list of so many.... thanks
 
I'm thinking that the key you need was on sticker on a CD sleeve that was in the original box if that's the way it was purchased. If you copied that key somewhere else that's great.

You can't "derive" this key in any other way nor can Microsoft do it for you.
 
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The Mac Office 2011 "Product Key" is on a yellow sticker attached to the back of the cardboard CD envelope that came in the 2011 Mac Office box. (I have mine sitting here before me.) The Product Key is series of 5 x 5 alpha numeric characters. What the OP has been using is the Product ID (not the same). He can try calling MS.. good luck with that! They will likely try to sell him a subscription to Office 2016. I've never known MS to just give in and say "OK, you lost your Product Key and so here's another you can use". :rolleyes:
 
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Thanks guys, yes I know what you mean. I do have that somewhere... it's a question of finding it. I think the yellow box is in the old box for the laptop and will have a rummage. Why did I write the product ID down...
 
The licensing information should be housed in this file: /Library/Preferences/com.microsoft.office.licensing.plist
Try copying it from the old drive to the new.
 
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The licensing information is encrypted in that file and can not be read by ordinary means. Microsoft is not that naive that they would allow the Product ID code to be read in the clear.
 
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I had a similar problem - trying to install MS Office2011 on a 2017 iMac with MacOS Sierra.
I also made the mistake between the Product ID and Product Key.

My solution was to purchase a new 'cheap" product key online for £36.

Not ideal, but at least I get to use Office 2011 and not the slug that 365 is!
 
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chscag said:
The licensing information is encrypted in that file and can not be read by ordinary means. Microsoft is not that naive that they would allow the Product ID code to be read in the clear.
Click to expand...

I also wrote copy, not read ;)

Several posts found on other forums suggest copying the file will deal with the activation.
 
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THe biggest mystery to me is why it didn't ask for this when it was being used as an external, but when fitted internally, the exact same drive in the MBP, it then asks for it.
 
I recently put my 2010 macbook SSD in my 2012 macbook pro and office 2016 is working and not ask for code.
I do have code of course, for 3 users. Only paragon NTFS stopped working

also office 2016 on my imac when HDD failed and fitted an SSD when put the time machine backup on it all ok no activation errors.
 
elf69 said:
I recently put my 2010 macbook SSD in my 2012 macbook pro and office 2016 is working and not ask for code.
I do have code of course, for 3 users. Only paragon NTFS stopped working

also office 2016 on my imac when HDD failed and fitted an SSD when put the time machine backup on it all ok no activation errors.
Click to expand...

Thread is about MS Office 2011. Completely different.
 
yes different but I know a TM backup works for 2011 as I used to run 2011 before getting 2016.
If OP had a TM back up it would work.

office key easy recover in windows with several key reader programs, does such not exist for mac?
 
I purchased online today and was never given a key. Only the product code.

I installed it and activated it, and the key was never prompted for. I hope I never have to reinstall because I can’t provide one either.
 
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