Today I started getting this error saying my office 2010 isn't activated.
Then I get this error when I try to reactivate it by hitting the change product key button?
Anybody know what gives or how I can get around this to reactivate my office before the trial period runs out?
How long was the Office installation activated before it deactivated itself? What is the source of the Office installation?
That error is usually seen with Volume Licensed versions of office. It cannot connect to the KMS server.
Have you installed more versions than the licence permits? My licence only permits 3 installations after which any new installations are not activated.
Sorry for the delay, years if I can remember. I don't recall the last time I had to re-image the drive, win10 is fairly solid as opposed to like Win95 which I had to re-image the drive almost monthly.
I believe I have it on 3 but it could be 4 of my computers, I'm not exactly positive since I also have a copy I use on the churches computers. But there's only one out of all our machines having this problem, it happens to be the one I have in my office.
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We have been having trouble with the internet at the church, how often does Office check with the server? Is it every time you open an application?
If you have used more than the allocated number of installs it is often the case that the first installed is the one deactivated, which can be confusing - Not sure with Microsoft but it's the way with many developers - their assumption is I think based on the fact that often we users forget to remove licences on older systems before retiring them from use
I will check into that but I haven't installed or activated Office on any new machines, I'm thinking my daughters notebook was the last which would have been during the summer session of 2019 so close to a year ago?
But my real problem is it isn't let me get to where I can install the key again? I'm getting that second error when I try. Anyone know where the log files are it's telling me to review?
Soapm
Being honest with you ...
There is a known hack used with Microsoft Office that fakes a licencing server to use office illegally.
The Microsoft system is used on Business Server based systems and known as a Key Management server or KMS. The system admin purchases a number of licences via Microsoft or it's agents using a system called Volume Licencing.
Volume licencing usually starts at a minimum of 10 Licences but usually involves more - up to many thousands. The KMS server checks for each running of a copy of office (or an office component), and allocates one of the managed licenses to the running copy, this system is useful in business as you can have more systems with office installed than you have licences, and the first x users will be able to use the software, keeping software costs down.
The hack involves a local service that is run on the local system, it intercepts the licence request from office and sends an acknowledgement back that the system is licenced, when of course it is not. There are unscrupulous sellers on the Internet, and even in Bricks and mortar stores that will sell these hacked installers to unsuspecting users who are budget conscious, (these copies are usually less than full price), you may be a victim of one of these scam sales
Microsoft are at "war" with these people who sell these hacked system to normally innocent users and regularly will find some identification that can be used to shut down these hacked setups. the installed office checks with the server at preset time periods, set by the system admin usually 30 to 90 days for laptops or as low as 60 minutes for desktops
You system could be one of these as you mention that the system reports it is unable to locate the KMS server - which unless you are running a multiple user, server based setup, is not usual. It may be worthwhile reinstalling the office system and see if there is any improvement,
Microsoft office is a complex program and it's security is even more complex and may have borked itself
Of course there could be some issue in your system that is failing that makes it think it does need to authenticate with KMS -
Hi there
was going to say the same thing as @Barman58 !!!
Office 2019/Office /365 are now "Click to Run" and installed via Internet -- apart from some "discount copies" you see on Amazon from time to time you won't get an iso / img file and KMS activation usually implies (at least for HOME / NON Corporate editions) some type of Piracy.
If you believe you have a legit license then you can activate by phone --. Phone activation isn't horrendous these days as it's GUI driven --you'll get a screen with a whole series of numbers to enter. Easy.
Cheers
jimbo
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