ms publisher invaled product key

kmedina · 09-14-2007, 03:58 PM

My work computer has ms office xp small business installed and all the programs (excel, word, etc.) work except ms publisher. When I open it I am asked to enter the product key. I enter the product key but it says it is an invalid key. I have re-installed using the disc and the same product key but again everything works except publisher. I also went to ms site but it really only told me to enter the product key again. What else might be the problem? Thanks.

**carsey** · 09-14-2007, 04:04 PM

Im not 100% certain, but I think publisher has a different key to the other programs.

**gistek** · 09-15-2007, 08:17 AM

If it's supposed to come with that package, the key for all the other products should work. If it isn't part of that package, it shouldn't even attempt to install.

I had a similar problem several years ago with an MS Office disk. I had to reinstall everything, including the OS, and the MS Office CD applications refused to activate. I called MS and they said this sometimes happens if the disk has been used to install several times. (I got it from a college book store, so who knows what those geeks did with it before I bought it.)

I explained how I had to reformat my computer several times because one application was over stressing the system every few weeks (I was taking a statistics class and my home system was marginal for the application we had to use). MS reset my code and everything worked fine after that.

This was back in the late 90's and about 2 MS Office Versions ago, but hopefully they will be just as helpful now as they were then. (of course, several of the mods here think I live in a total dream world)

Zazula · 09-17-2007, 01:10 AM

First of all, in order to set the record straight, both carsey and gistek are correct. That is, there are Office suites with Publisher, that come with a separate product key just for the Publisher application (like carsey said), AND there are also Office suites with Publisher, that use a single product key for the Publisher application, as well (like gistek said). An example of the former case is Office XP Professional Special Edition, while two examples of the latter are Office 2003 Professional and Office 2007 Enterprise Editions - and I know first-hand because I have all three installed in my PC.

So, it is of paramount importance, kmedina, that you make sure which one the right product for Publisher in your case. Then, do the following:

1. Click Start, click Run, type the following command line (where drive is the letter of the CD drive that contains the Office installation disc, and xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx is your Office CD key) in the Run dialog box, and then click OK:

drive:\setup.exe /L*V C:\install.txt PIDKEY=xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx /qb

2. Follow the instructions that appear on the screen, keeping in mind that you are not after a complete Office installation, but only a Publisher repair installation.

If you run into activation problems: http://support.microsoft.com/kb/903275/en-us

kmedina · 09-20-2007, 04:30 PM

Thanks for the information guys. When I have more time I'll try your suggestion, Zazula. If it doesn't work I guess I'll try microsoft. Thanks again.

09-14-2007, 03:58 PM	#1 (permalink)
kmedina Registered User Join Date: Sep 2007 Posts: 2 OS: Win2000	ms publisher invaled product key My work computer has ms office xp small business installed and all the programs (excel, word, etc.) work except ms publisher. When I open it I am asked to enter the product key. I enter the product key but it says it is an invalid key. I have re-installed using the disc and the same product key but again everything works except publisher. I also went to ms site but it really only told me to enter the product key again. What else might be the problem? Thanks.

09-14-2007, 04:04 PM	#2 (permalink)
carsey Moderator, TSF Articles Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Hunwick, Co. Durham England Posts: 10,688 OS: XP Pro SP3 My System	Re: ms publisher invaled product key Im not 100% certain, but I think publisher has a different key to the other programs. __________________ Submit New Articles Here

09-15-2007, 08:17 AM	#3 (permalink)
gistek Folding Along Join Date: May 2007 Location: PA, USA Posts: 1,912 OS: Bobbi=xp, sp3 Muse=Vista Home Premium	Re: ms publisher invaled product key If it's supposed to come with that package, the key for all the other products should work. If it isn't part of that package, it shouldn't even attempt to install. I had a similar problem several years ago with an MS Office disk. I had to reinstall everything, including the OS, and the MS Office CD applications refused to activate. I called MS and they said this sometimes happens if the disk has been used to install several times. (I got it from a college book store, so who knows what those geeks did with it before I bought it.) I explained how I had to reformat my computer several times because one application was over stressing the system every few weeks (I was taking a statistics class and my home system was marginal for the application we had to use). MS reset my code and everything worked fine after that. This was back in the late 90's and about 2 MS Office Versions ago, but hopefully they will be just as helpful now as they were then. (of course, several of the mods here think I live in a total dream world) __________________ I am not a computer professional, My advice comes from personal experience and/or friends who are computer professionals. Learn By Doing Un-versity Interested in Search and Rescue? Check out the Civil Air Patrol. Come Fold with us. TSF Folding@Home Team

09-17-2007, 01:10 AM	#4 (permalink)
Zazula Manager Emeritus, I'm blond, James Blond Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Athens, Greece Posts: 7,667 OS: Win XP Pro SP2	Re: ms publisher invaled product key First of all, in order to set the record straight, both carsey and gistek are correct. That is, there are Office suites with Publisher, that come with a separate product key just for the Publisher application (like carsey said), AND there are also Office suites with Publisher, that use a single product key for the Publisher application, as well (like gistek said). An example of the former case is Office XP Professional Special Edition, while two examples of the latter are Office 2003 Professional and Office 2007 Enterprise Editions - and I know first-hand because I have all three installed in my PC. So, it is of paramount importance, kmedina, that you make sure which one the right product for Publisher in your case. Then, do the following: 1. Click Start, click Run, type the following command line (where drive is the letter of the CD drive that contains the Office installation disc, and xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx is your Office CD key) in the Run dialog box, and then click OK: drive:\setup.exe /LV C:\install.txt PIDKEY=xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx* /qb 2. Follow the instructions that appear on the screen, keeping in mind that you are not after a complete Office installation, but only a Publisher repair installation. If you run into activation problems: http://support.microsoft.com/kb/903275/en-us __________________ "Time is the wisest because it discovers everything" Thales of Miletus (ca.624BC-ca.546BC) "Everything flows, nothing stands still." Heraclitus of Ephesus (ca.535BC-475BC) "One thing I know, that I know nothing" Socrates of Athens (ca.470BC–399BC) Last edited by Zazula; 09-17-2007 at 01:11 AM.

09-20-2007, 04:30 PM	#5 (permalink)
kmedina Registered User Join Date: Sep 2007 Posts: 2 OS: Win2000	Re: ms publisher invaled product key Thanks for the information guys. When I have more time I'll try your suggestion, Zazula. If it doesn't work I guess I'll try microsoft. Thanks again.