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I have been asked by a Client to refresh one of their Machines.

To do this i managed to get Windows XP Setup to run in Repair mode, and while in setup i ran a serial key grabber, which grabbed the key for Office 2007

The only thing is that the key grabber didnt tell me what edition of Office 2007 was installed.

I have aqquired a number of ISO's for the different editions (Home & Student, Standard, Professional, Ultimate) but the key doesnt work in any of them.

Is there a way to get the edition from the Serial Key, or is there a generic ISO that will install any edition depending on the Serial Key?

Just to be clear: I couldnt boot the laptop into XP when i got it, and had to use the getting to command prompt in the second part of the XP setup to run the key grabber, Belarc wouldnt run.

I have now done a clean install of XP. I didnt reliase that the Office Disks were for only a certain edition

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You could gather the version number from a dll in the Program Files folder, but I have no idea if it also gives info on the Edition of Office... – Ivo Flipse♦ Apr 2 '10 at 9:21
I cant get to the file now, as the HDD has been wiped and XP clean installed – Lloyd Sparkes Apr 2 '10 at 9:41
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2 Answers

up vote 1 down vote

Office like most of Microsoft products, comes in an OEM version and a retail version and an enterprise version. The key from one version can't work in another.

First question - ask your client - did Office come with this machine when they purchased it? If so, most likely it was a OEM version and you have an OEM key. You need to get the OEM iso. If it was preloaded, see if they have the original disks. Check the casing for a COA sticker.

Second question - did they install it after? If so, again ask for the disk. See if any other computers at the same time were loaded - if so, may be same version.

If this is a large company, they may have a enterprise version - if so they usually have a special key and special install disks or downloads.

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Run a Belarc Advisor to create a profile of the computer

This will give you information on all the (important) installed software on the computer + Microsoft licenses.

Example:

  • Belarc - Advisor
  • Microsoft - Internet Explorer
  • Microsoft - Money 2004
  • Microsoft - Office Professional Edition 2003
  • Microsoft - WebFldrs XP
  • Microsoft - Windows Defender
  • Microsoft - Windows XP Professional
  • Microsoft - Works 2000
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When i got the computer the XP Setup was corrupted, so i tried to run a repair, which wouldnt finish correctly (it couldnt find drivers for the DVD Drive, so could finish installing) but i used the Shift+F10 trick to get into Command Prompt, and got it to run a Key Grabber, Belarc Advisor wouldnt run. – Lloyd Sparkes Apr 2 '10 at 9:07
Ah I didn't get from your question that you had no way of getting into Windows properly. Perhaps you should edit your question to be more explicit about it ;-) – Ivo Flipse♦ Apr 2 '10 at 9:13
Perhaps you should consider putting the hard drive in another computer and load it up there. – Ivo Flipse♦ Apr 2 '10 at 9:14
Its too late now, i have wiped it and installed XP fresh – Lloyd Sparkes Apr 2 '10 at 9:22
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Then I suggest contacting Microsoft with the key to request for which version it is. – Ivo Flipse♦ Apr 2 '10 at 9:34
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