[Spridgets] Microsoft software question - no LBC

Jim Ryan ryan at jimryan.com
Mon Jan 27 09:43:07 MST 2025


"No, Best Buy does not have stores in the United Kingdom. Best Buy closed
all of its UK stores in 2012 due to poor financial performance. "

Guess it's Amazon then.

On Mon, Jan 27, 2025, 11:25 AM Rick Fisk <refisk at chartermi.net> wrote:

> Does Best Buy have stores in the UK?
>
> On Jan 27, 2025, at 8:31 AM, Jim Ryan via Spridgets <
> spridgets at autox.team.net> wrote:
>
> 
> Daniel,
>
> For people like that I always advise them to go to Best Buy and get a
> Chromebook.  Inexpensive, easy to use, long battery life, and access to all
> the Google apps.  You can usually find one on sale for 200-300 dollars.  If
> she doesn't like it you can return it in 15 days.  She would need a Google
> (gmail) account, but that's easy and free to set up. I have never had
> somebody not thank me for pointing them in that direction.
>
> On Mon, Jan 27, 2025 at 5:51 AM Weslake1330 via Spridgets <
> spridgets at autox.team.net> wrote:
>
>> Thanks Ron,
>>
>> I'll give that a try and if not I'll probably persuade her to buy
>> software - though she doesn't really us it enough to justify the outlay.
>> She is retired and living off a mixture of pension and savings so not flush
>> with money and has some savings for her really old age.
>>
>> Regards
>>
>> Daniel
>>
>> On Sun, 26 Jan 2025 at 21:04, Ron Soave <soavero at yahoo.com> wrote:
>>
>>> Daniel! So great to hear from you. I almost never check this email and
>>> glad I did. I asked AI for help. Here is the response:
>>>
>>>         1.      Incompatibility with Windows 11:
>>>       •   Office 2010 is quite old and may have compatibility issues
>>> with Windows 11. Some features, including activation processes, might not
>>> work correctly on the newer OS.
>>>         2.      Internet Activation Issues:
>>>       •   Sometimes, the software may not connect to Microsoft’s
>>> activation servers, which could be causing the missing activation code
>>> issue.
>>>         3.      Key Already in Use:
>>>       •   If the Office 2010 license was used multiple times on other
>>> machines, it might have reached its activation limit, preventing a new code
>>> generation.
>>>         4.      Installation of Different Versions:
>>>       •   Since you installed the 32-bit version, if the original key
>>> was tied to a 64-bit installation, it might be causing validation problems.
>>>
>>> Potential Solutions:
>>>
>>>         1.      Try the Office Activation Troubleshooter:
>>>       •   Microsoft provides a troubleshooter that can diagnose and fix
>>> activation issues. Try running it from the Control Panel under
>>> “Troubleshooting” > “Programs.”
>>>         2.      Manual Phone Activation (Alternative Method):
>>>       •   If the software isn’t generating an activation code
>>> automatically, try running the command prompt as an administrator and using
>>> the following command to force manual activation:
>>>
>>> cscript "C:\Program Files (x86)\Microsoft Office\Office14\OSPP.VBS" /act
>>>
>>> This might help initiate the process and generate a code.
>>>
>>>         3.      Use the “Change Product Key” Option:
>>>       •   Go to “File” > “Help” > “Change Product Key” in Office and
>>> enter the key manually to see if it prompts an activation dialog.
>>>         4.      Reinstall Office 2010:
>>>       •   If the original installation was corrupted or missing key
>>> components, uninstalling and reinstalling (if you can find the 64-bit
>>> version) might resolve the issue.
>>>         5.      Contacting Microsoft Support (Persistence Needed):
>>>       •   Although it may take time, contacting Microsoft support and
>>> explaining that the activation wizard is not providing an installation ID
>>> might help. Sometimes, they can manually provide activation assistance.
>>>
>>> Long-Term Solution:
>>>
>>> If all else fails and activation proves to be a dead end, consider
>>> alternatives such as:
>>>
>>>    •   Microsoft 365 Personal Subscription: Affordable with the latest
>>> features.
>>>    •   LibreOffice or OpenOffice: Free alternatives that can handle
>>> basic Office tasks.
>>>    •   Discounted Office 2021 Perpetual License: If a newer version is
>>> needed but without a subscription.
>>>
>>> If you think she’ll resist purchasing new software, it might be time for
>>> a gentle push to upgrade or switch to free alternatives that meet her needs.
>>>
>>>
>>> Ron Soave
>>>
>>> > On Jan 25, 2025, at 3:54 PM, Weslake1330 via Spridgets <
>>> spridgets at autox.team.net> wrote:
>>> >
>>> > List,
>>> >
>>> > Unlike myself, my wife never spends any money on anything computer
>>> related and waits for me to resolve her problems....
>>> >
>>> > Currently she has a very nice Microsoft SurfacePro laptop I got her
>>> and it is running W11.  Her old PC ran W1O and Home Office 2010 that was
>>> family software (I think you could have 4 users on it).  I installed Office
>>> 2010 ok but the 32 bit version because one of my daughters has or has lost
>>> the 64 bit disc and isn't owning up to it.
>>> >
>>> > So far so good except I can't activate the software because it does
>>> not generate an activation code which means you can't activate it by phone
>>> either.  After spending some time on hold to MS I gave up and thought I
>>> would ask the list instead.
>>> >
>>> > The solution of course is for her to 'find' the money for a more
>>> recent copy of office just like I had to for myself, this doesn't seem very
>>> likely in the near future.  So any ideas why the software won't generate an
>>> activation code and would spending time on a long call to Microsoft simply
>>> be a waste of my time (yes, she isn't good with this kind of phone call)?
>>> >
>>> > Thanks and probably better than googling for an answer again and if
>>> the list draws a blank I'll tell him to start saving up and to stop wasting
>>> money on stuff she doesn't need . ..
>>>
>>> ------------------------
>>
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>>
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>
>
> --
>
> Jim Ryan
>
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