Can I reseal office 2003 as same as windows xp

[whitehorse]

Can I reseal office 2003 as same as windows xp. After install windows xp and office 2003, can I do something, so that when the system is turned on first time, it will ask to type in product key office 2003. I know it can be done for windows xp if i reseal windows, but is there a way to do samething on office 2003?

[prathapml]

Yes, you can do it to be so.

All you need to do, is to not give your key.

I mean, if you followed the MSFN official guide that says to make an admin-install point - then you have already given the key to install it. Instead, install it directly from the source it is currently in (with /QB switch and *WITHOUT* using "PIDKEY=" property).

So after office2003 installs, if you start any application of the suite (like word/excel/etc.) it will automatically ask you to enter the key before proceeding to open the app.

[whitehorse]

I have tried setup /QB and pro11.msi /QB (without using PIDKEY) from original CD, but it says 'you have not entered a valid product key' after a while. Any idear?

[prathapml]

Do you have a retail CD or a VLK ?

[whitehorse]

This version was from my friend, i am not sure it is retail or VLK version. Is any way to tell it?

[prathapml]

If it gives you only a 30 day limit, and asks for activation - then its retail.

[whitehorse]

After normal installation, it says "this product has been already activated". I think it is VLK version. Does it mean VLK version can not use setup /-qb without product key? How about retail version?

[prathapml]

Okay see, there's 3 possibilities. Choose any 1 of those:

1. There's some tool (I don't remember which it was) that microsoft has in downloads, to manage this installed property (to "reseal" as you call it).

2. The VLK needs a key compulsorily. Use the retail CD.

And I really don't know why you want to use a VLK copy of the CD and not use the key. Because if you really are authorised to have the VLK, you can as well use the key. But if you are going to distribute the office2003 VLK (in pre-installed form on PCs) to customers, that is illegal. Plus, remember that if your customer has bought a retail version of office2003, the retail key won't work on the VLK version that you installed. (individual users *CANNOT* own VLK - you should purchase thousands of licences for getting VLK authorisation).

3. Use the original CD (can be VLK or retail), or an admin-install point and install o2k3 normally with key. Then use a registry tweak, or REG.EXE (command-line) to delete this registry key:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Office\11.0\Registration

That is where all info about your o2k3 installation's registration is stored. If you delete that, your o2k3 apps will ask for a key at first-run (but the key you used to initially install office will already be filled-in for you).

Well... that's an excess of comments that I gave... Too rambling to read. Anyways, do tell what you decided to finally do. (I think option 3 is what you'd want) Just tell if this is sufficient - if you need more info, I'll post it here for you.

Hoping this helps...