MS Office 2003 Activation query

[Wigwam]

have just had Office 2003 installed on my PC [legit copy!]. the license allowed the installed to a home computer and i duly activated it online. my concern is that i will do a reinstall in a few weeks.
Given that the licence allowed single install to my home pc as well as the work pc, will i have any problems when/if i go to do another online activation after the reinstall?

is there anyway i can view/keep a copy of the activation number i have already been given and use that?

to be honest by bro-in-law [whose it is, and whose licemce it has been installed using] gave me the activation key he got when he activated the work install over the phone but it kept saying "not a recognised activation key" hence i went online (with some trepidation!) .
but i was abit confused - if i clicked the "telephone" activation same as he did, and used the key he was given and which obviously worked how did my install know that key had been used before? i hadnt gone online or anything like that????

(His licence allows allows install to his home computer as well and he hasnt done it but instead installed it on mine [he works from here a fair bit]) - thought i better clarify this!

 

[timswim78]

The reason that you could not use the code he got when he registered online is that the code is uniquely generated based upon serial numbers of components in your computer.

I do not know if you can backup the activation files for office 2k3 the same way that you can for windows xp. Anyway, I don't think that you should have a problem reactivating if your hardware is going to be the same.

 

[Softballslug]

You will have to call Microsoft. They will ask how many times this has been activated. Be honest with them and say that this is a re-install of the software on the same machine. I have never had an issue.

 

[spidey]

http://www.outlook-tips.net/archives/20031027.htm

Once activated, you can back up the opa11.dat file and replace it on a fresh install.

 

[Wigwam]

Originally posted by: timswim78
The reason that you could not use the code he got when he registered online is that the code is uniquely generated based upon serial numbers of components in your computer.

sorry to belabour this point but how can that be - you install software, cal the number to activate and the person asks you for the cd-key then you're given an activation code. Where amongst all tha process would they possible know twhat components you have in order to tailor the code to it? he didnt activate online, that's the point i am making he did it by phone and i even just double-checked the numbers with him...

 

[Wigwam]

just reread that link that spidey posted and i see that the codes they give out are date-stamped hence it wouldnt work Doh!