Solved Can I use Office 2010 when install limit is reached?

I currently have Office 2016 installed but I found a Student & Faculty copy of Office 2010 that's been in the drawer for a while, ( it's one with the big yellow sticker on the back with the product key). I was hoping to give to a family member to use but after installation when opening Word it says it cannot authenticate this copy as the maximum number of activations has been exceeded. Is it possible to deactivate previous installations from previous computers to enable another activation, or does it not work like that? In other words is it just worth chucking in the bin or is there a way round it?

you can call MSFT. it will activate Office2010 for you.

I have done this way many times these years on Windows 10/11. (my home/student 2010 copy can run three PCs)

BJC1992 said:

Student & Faculty copy of Office 2010

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These special editions can have peculiar licence conditions.
MS no longer provide downloads of 2010 licence texts.
There might be a copy of the licence text on the computer even though activation failed. The file is probably called MsoEula.txt and is probably somewhere in C:\Program files or C:\Program files (x86).

By the way, the failure message you are getting might or might not be accurate and therefore might or might not be helpful.
I haven't seen an Office version in which the concept of de-registering existed.

@mngerhold - Martin, Does your knowledge of Office 2010 extend to this edition?


Best of luck,
Denis

FWIW, I registered Office 2010 and Visio 2010 on my main computer and my laptop, and they registered successfully on the Microsoft site. I've had these for a very long time and they keep moving when I update computers. I have no use for even the features in Office 2010, never mind all the bloat of the new versions!

Back in 2012 when I was taking some college classes I went to the bookstore and bought: Office University 2010 - $99.99. In the box was a Student Verification Number that I redeemed at the MS online store. I was then sent a Office 2010 Product Key. In comparing the specs and download file with Office Professional 2010 I verified that they were the same. Just like Office 2010 Pro, I can install it on two devices, my desktop and my laptop. I just installed it on one of my desktop computers a couple days ago. It activated online fine.

If online activation does not work you have no choice but to call Microsoft. That is because telephone activation is no longer supported. If you go to the web site below you can find the telephone for your country that will connect you to Microsoft support.

"Telephone activation is no longer supported for your product" error when activating Office

BTW, if you connect with a good Microsoft support person they can be helpful. Over the last few years they have helped me activate Windows XP Pro and Office 2003 Pro.

BJC1992 said:

I currently have Office 2016 installed but I found a Student & Faculty copy of Office 2010 that's been in the drawer for a while, ( it's one with the big yellow sticker on the back with the product key). I was hoping to give to a family member to use but after installation when opening Word it says it cannot authenticate this copy as the maximum number of activations has been exceeded. Is it possible to deactivate previous installations from previous computers to enable another activation, or does it not work like that? In other words is it just worth chucking in the bin or is there a way round it?

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When I have installed my Office 2010 on a new replacement computer several times over the years, and when activation then has been unsuccessful over the internet, I have instead chosen "Acitvate by telephone".

Even though the software says it can no longer be done, and as well no telephone number is given, I've called Microsoft at 866 421-7141 on my Mobile phone. They will offer to send a message containing a link that can be used for activation.

After some preliminaries, using the link will require you to enter the "hash number" given on the Office 2010 phone activation screen, and then in turn you will be offered an activation number that you must type back into the Office screen.

In the initial part of using the link, you might be asked "On how many computers is this software installed?" (Or some similar wording.) Since I'm not using the Office license on any other computer, I always answer "0" (zero) and the activation process continues. (I'm not sure what would happen if you inserted any other number besides zero.)

Good luck!

Fortunately my licenses have worked first time, every time with a new install, so that never came up.

gunrunnerjohn said:

Fortunately my licenses have worked first time, every time with a new install, so that never came up.

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For the OP it's different, since he wrote that his "Word it says it cannot authenticate this copy as the maximum number of activations has been exceeded".

The process I cited for him will overcome that issue when he enters "zero" for the question about the "number installed on other computers". Doing so would then also negate his need to perform the part of the post where he asked about "Is it possible to deactivate previous installations from previous computers. . ."

altaylor said:

For the OP it's different

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Yes. The OP has an unusual edition that probably has unusual licence terms.

BJC1992 said:

Student & Faculty copy

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The OP will need to read the licence terms.
MS no longer provide downloads for 2010 licences but there should be a copy on the computer itself.


Denis

My last experience with this was apparently in 2018, when I attempted to install Office 2010 PRO on my then new PC. I had to use telephone activation, and finding a working number for the UK took some digging (talking to a robot lady), and after a few false starts had it installed. In my case, when asked the number of previous installs, I guessed at 2 (hard to keep track), was told that activation had failed, and had to speak to a human who suggested I try later. I did so, and this time guessed 3, and got into the 'write down the annoying 8 sets of 6 digits' - this took 2 goes round, as I was happily typing away on my keypad before realising that numlock was off. It took a second go around before I had them all. Best to write on paper!

I do not know if uninstallling releases a new activation slot. But you will need the original activation 'key'. I have installed the Home & Student vn on other PCs, but not had to re-activate them.

NB This page still gives the same number for the UK that I used 7 years ago: 0800-018-8354

mngerhold said:

NB This page still gives the same number for the UK that I used 7 years ago: 0800-018-8354

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That page gives me two numbers, did you try the other one?

gunrunnerjohn said:

That page gives me two numbers, did you try the other one?

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I don;t need to try it - I'm not the one with the problem. Back in 2018, I used the toll-free number, of course.

If it doesn’t work out for you, you can always try Office 2010 Starter Edition. This starter pack only offers Word and Excel but they are 100% legit. There is a way to block the small ad.

If you are interested, send me a direct message and I will come back to this thread. I will then give you the link and walk you through the steps on how to install this Starter Edition.

Thanks to all who's offered advice. I've contacted Pewa above as I only really need Word and Excel, so the Starter Edition sounds ideal.

I got your message.
I thought I replied a while ago. I guess not.
Too sleepy right now. It is 2:33 am here in Japan and I am going to bed.

I will do so later when I get up. Watch this spot.

BJC1992 said:

Thanks to all who's offered advice. I've contacted Pewa above as I only really need Word and Excel, so the Starter Edition sounds ideal.

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Is there a reason you haven't called Microsoft support. They have usually been helpful when I called. About four years ago they even helped me activate Windows XP Pro and MS Office 2003 Pro.

I have used Office 2010 Starter Edition. When I first tried it it worked fine. A few years later I had a real hard time getting it to install and run. After a lot of effort I got it installed. I just tried again in Windows 10 and 11. I could install it but Windows refused to run it.

If you have given up on Office 2010 you might want to try the free program called FreeOffice. It works great in Windows 10 or 11.

FreeOffice installs 3 programs:
TextMaker (comparable to Word)
PlanMaker (comparable to Excel)
Presentations (comparable to PowerPoint)

FreeOffice 2024

Shortcuts to TextMaker, PlanMaker, and Presentations installed on desktop



TextMaker and PlanMaker. They have the ribbon interface like Office 2010. You can also switch to the menu interface like Office 2003.

There are lots of free office suites...

The Office 2010 Starter Edition was offered to encourage people to install the full Office Suite. Later Microsoft found out most people just continued to use the free Word and Excel apps instead of purchasing the full Suite. So the Starter Pack was no longer offered after that.

This is important! To install Office Starter 2010, please ensure that you have completely uninstalled any version of Microsoft office, including Microsoft 365, from your computer.

I will not provide you with the links from jemboy as you will need to activate your VPN in order to properly install the Starter edition.

So first off, download office starter 10 from the internet archive:

Next up, download Click2run-x-none.msp from my Sync account: (I will keep this link activated for 1 month).

Put this file in a new folder and named it 'Updates'.

There is one more file (Office Ad Remover) that you need to download from my Sync account: (I will keep this link activated for 1 month).

After you have downloaded the 3 files, do the following:

1. Extract all the files from CR2 Starter to a new folder. Name the folder - Office 2010 Starter Edition.
2. Put the Updates folder in the 'Office 2010 Starter Edition' folder. So now it has become a sub folder. You can also put it in the sub folder ''Consumer en-us'.
3. Open your 'Office 2010 Starter Edition' folder and look for the sub folder 'Consumer en-us'.
4. Open this folder.
5. Look for the file 'SetupConsumerC2ROLW'.
6. RIGHT-CLICK this file and run it as an administrator.
7. Once you have done that, go to the sub folder 'Updates'.
8. Install 'Click2run-x-none'.
9. Click 'Ok'.
10. Now click 'Yes' to restart your pc.
11. Once rebooted, go to the start menu and look for 'Microsoft Office Starter (English)'.
12. Click any product in the drop down menu. May I suggest 'Microsoft Word Starter 2010'.
13. Enter your name and initials. Look at the example below.
Name: Peter
Initials: P
14. Click' Ok'.
15. Use 'Recommended Settings'.
16. Click 'Ok'.
17. Now click 'Yes'.
18. Activate 'Office Ad Remover' to get rid of the ad. There is no installation required but you need to activate it each time you use 'Word' or' Excel'.

That's it!

Your office product will run in a Virtual Environment 'Drive Q'. Because it is a VE, there are no security concerns at all.

You might want to back up your folder 'Office 2010 Starter Edition' for future use.

Good luck!

MisterEd said:

Is there a reason you haven't called Microsoft support. They have usually been helpful when I called. About four years ago they even helped me activate Windows XP Pro and MS Office 2003 Pro.

I have used Office 2010 Starter Edition. When I first tried it it worked fine. A few years later I had a real hard time getting it to install and run. After a lot of effort I got it installed. I just tried again in Windows 10 and 11. I could install it but Windows refused to run it.

If you have given up on Office 2010 you might want to try the free program called FreeOffice. It works great in Windows 10 or 11.

FreeOffice installs 3 programs:
TextMaker (comparable to Word)
PlanMaker (comparable to Excel)
Presentations (comparable to PowerPoint)

FreeOffice 2024

FreeOffice: The best free alternative to Microsoft Office

FreeOffice, the best free alternative to Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, PowerPoint) for Windows, Mac and Linux

www.freeoffice.com

Shortcuts to TextMaker, PlanMaker, and Presentations installed on desktop

View attachment 146170

TextMaker and PlanMaker. They have the ribbon interface like Office 2010. You can also switch to the menu interface like Office 2003.

View attachment 146171

Click to expand...

I haven't called Microsoft support only because I then saw the post about the starter pack and thought that would probably be the simpler solution. But it's possible I may still do so if I wanted to try and use Office 2010.

Thanks to everyone for your help and support.