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Office Product Key Card frequently asked questions

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What is the Microsoft Office Product Key Card?

Product Key Cards make installation fast and easy.

Customers who purchase a PC that has the Office 2010 suites preloaded on their PC can purchase a Product Key Card for one of the three Office 2010 suites and use the 25-character Product Key inside the package to install the software on their PC. The Product Key Card package does not include a disc. Product Key Cards allow for only one activation on one PC.

Where do I find my Office 2010 Product Key?

Your Product Key is 25 characters and is found in different locations depending on how you acquired Office 2010.

Traditional Disc

If you purchased Office on a traditional disc the Product Key should be located inside the package on a label on the card opposite the disc holder on the left side of the DVD case.

Product Key Card

If you purchased an Office Product Key Card the Product Key should be located inside the package on a label on the left side of the case.

Note: If the Product Key is not inside the package please review the instructions in the package. You may be required to retrieve your Product Key from www.office.com/getkey.

Online

If you purchased and downloaded Office online the Product Key should be on the confirmation page and/or e-mail that was sent to you when you downloaded the software.

Preloaded on New PC

If you purchased a new computer with Office preloaded the manufacturer of your computer should have included either media or a Microsoft Product Identifier card in the box that has the Product Key. The Product Key is located on the Certificate of Authenticity and should look similar to the following:

How does the Product Key Card work?

A customer who purchases a PC that has the Office 2010 preloaded image can choose to purchase an Office 2010 traditional disc version or the new Office 2010 Product Key Card. If a customer only needs one installation for one preloaded PC and does not need or want a DVD, they can purchase the Product Key Card. They will then use the 25-character Product Key located inside the Product Key Card package to install and activate the preloaded image. No disc is required for installation.

I purchased the Product Key Card but there is no Product Key inside the package.

If you purchased a Product Key Card and the Product Key is not inside the package you must download the 25-character Product Key. Look in your product packaging for a unique PIN and then go to www.office.com/getkey and enter your PIN. Follow the online instructions to download your Product Key and install Office 2010.

What is the Office 2010 preloaded single image?

The preloaded single image is preloaded software of all three Office 2010 suites: Office Home and Student 2010, Office Home and Business 2010, and Office Professional 2010. The Office 2010 preloaded image is put onto new PCs by many computer manufacturers and offers an easy way to purchase and use Office with a new PC. Customers purchase a 25-character Office 2010 Product Key in either the traditional disc or the new Product Key Card version to activate one of the preloaded suites on the PC.

Which software does Microsoft’s Product Key Card Terms apply to?

If your license designation is "PKC," use of the software downloaded from this site is governed by the "Product Key Card" terms portion of the Microsoft Software License Terms and the first clause of that agreement is amended to read as follows:

These license terms are an agreement between Microsoft Corporation (or based on where you live, one of its affiliates) and you. Please read them. They apply to the software (i) which is downloaded from this site and (ii) which is named on the PRODUCT KEY CARD you have purchased.

Does the Office Professional Academic 2010 work with the preloaded single image?

Yes - the Office 2010 single image can be activated with the Office Professional Academic 2010 Product Key.

How can I tell if I have Office 2010 preloaded on my PC?

To check, go to the Windows Start Menu and locate "Office 2010" in the menu. If you see "Office 2010," Office is preloaded. If you do not see "Microsoft Office 2010" the software is not preloaded.

What Office Products are available as Product Key Cards?

Office Home and Student 2010, Office Home and Business 2010 and Office Professional 2010 are available as Product Key Cards. Some retailers may also provide the Office Professional Academic 2010 Product Key Card.

What products are included in the Office preloaded image?

The preloaded image is a single image of all three retail Office 2010 suites – Office Home and Student 2010, Office Home and Business 2010 and Office Professional 2010.

I purchased the Office 2010 Product Key Card but I don’t have Office 2010 preloaded on my computer. What should I do?

If you purchased an Office 2010 Product Key Card and don’t have Office 2010 preloaded on your PC, you can download the software. Do the following:

1. Locate your 25-character Product Key. You must have a valid Office 2010 Product Key to install and activate your downloaded software.

2. Return to www.office.com/productkeycard.

3. Click download.

4. Follow the steps online to download and install Office 2010.

What is Click-to-Run?

Click-to-Run is a new way to download and install Microsoft Office which uses virtualization to allow you to use your Office program as they are streamed and cached to your computer. Click-to-Run is automatically used if your connection speed meets the connection speed minimums.

I tried to download Office 2010, but my Product Key was rejected. What do I do?

If your Product Key is not accepted, verify that you have entered your Product Key correctly, using the capitalization and hyphens. If the system is still not able to validate your Product Key, contact customer support at http://support.microsoft.com/office2010.

Can I download a 64-bit version of Office 2010?

Yes, a 64-bit Office 2010 product backup is available. However, we recommend most users install the 32-bit version of Office 2010. The 64-bit installation of Microsoft Office 2010 products are for users who commonly use very large documents or data sets and need Office 2010 programs to access greater than 2GB of memory. There are some technical limitations with the 64-bit version and in order to install a 64-bit version of your Office 2010 product you must have a 64-bit supported operating system on your PC.

How many licenses /installations do Office Product Key Cards allow?

Each Product Key Card allows one user to activate one Office 2010 suite on one preloaded PC.

How many licenses /installations are allowed with the traditional Office discs version?

The number of installations will vary depending on the Office suite purchased. The disc version of Office Home and Student 2010 allows a user to install one copy of the software on up to three PCs in a single household for non-commercial use. (Office Home and Student 2010 cannot be used for any commercial, non-profit or revenue generating activity or by any governmental organization.) The disc version of Office Home and Business 2010 and Office Professional 2010 allows one user to install one copy on one PC and a second copy on his/her portable device such as a laptop.

Can I install an Office Product Key Card on more than one PC?

No. The Office Product Key Card can only be installed on one PC. If you ever need to reinstall Office you can do so on the same PC on which Office was originally installed.

How do I install Office 2010?

If you have Office 2010 preloaded, click the Windows Start menu, click "Office 2010," and then click Activate. When prompted enter your 25-character Product Key. If you do not have Office preloaded you must first download the software. After downloading the file to your desktop, double-click the downloaded file to begin the installation process. Follow the on-screen instructions to install and activate Office 2010.

I have the Office 2007 Works/Trial already installed on my PC, do I need to uninstall the trial prior to downloading Office 2010?

No, you do not need to uninstall the Works/Office 2007 Trial. During the installation process Office 2010 will uninstall any previous Office version including trial versions unless you do a customer install.

Can I install Microsoft Office 2010 on my netbook PC?

If your netbook meets the necessary Office 2010 system requirements you can install it on your netbook.

Are the system requirements for the Office Product Key Card and the Traditional Disc the same?

Yes, the system requirements are the same for each product.

Who should I contact if I’m having trouble installing and /or activating my Office Product Key Card?

Please contact customer support at http://support.microsoft.com/office2010.

If I need to reinstall my Office product what do I do?

If you need to reinstall Office go to www.office.com/backup to download your software.

I lost my Office 2010 Product Key, what should I do?

If you cannot locate your Office 2010 Product Key, there are different actions to take depending on where you purchased Office 2010. If you purchased Office 2010 as an electronic download through an online store, contact the online store for your Product Key. If you purchased Office 2010 at a retail store, contact Microsoft support. If Office 2010 came preloaded on your computer, look at the Office user materials that came with your PC for the Product Key.

I purchased the Product Key Card, can I order a backup DVD?

Yes, if you purchased a Microsoft Office Product Key Card you are eligible to download a backup free or order a DVD for a fee. Please allow 1-2 weeks for delivery. To order a DVD click the download button and follow the online instructions.

I need help with my Office 2010 upgrade, who should I contact for support?

For online store purchases, downloads, or Product Key questions, please contact Microsoft Online ESD Support.
If you purchased Office 2007 from a retail store, for technical assistance (including software installation/un-installation, product activation, and product use) please contact Microsoft support.
If you purchased a computer with Office 2010 pre-installed, for technical assistance (including software installation/un-installation, product activation, and product use), please contact the manufacturer of your PC.

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