Help please for a product key...

[trt]

I bought my son a laptop 18 months ago from Argos.

He never used the Microsoft Works which came with it, but now he has gone to Uni he needs it for his study's and on trying to open it, it needs the product key, which he hasn't got.

I cant find the receipt, so he is stuck.

And ideas please, as if I contact the manufacturer, they might think he has a copy?

[wilkesneil]

product keys are usually on a booklet inside the box when you bought it.

[Buenchico]

It's almost certain that the version of Microsoft Works which was provided with the laptop was a time-limited trial. Thereafter it will only work if a hefty fee has been paid to obtain the relevant product code.

Forget Microsoft Works. OpenOffice, which is a free download, will do everything that Works can, and just as well:
http://www.openoffice.org/

Chris

[Maydup]

i was going to suggest Open Office too, it works a treat.

[Mosaic]

Plus. many uni's have subsidised editions of office for students. worth asking around. I agree Openoffice is excellent but sadly the bought versions of Microsoft Office still have the edge.

[HowardKennitby]

You also have the option of LibreOffice which is produced by some of the programmers who worked on OpenOffice.

[Buenchico]

Lotus Symphony, which was a full commercial product, has now been placed into the public domain as well:
http://www-03.ibm.com...ymphony/home.nsf/home

[rockyracoon]

This website is excellent, I've used it for my kids laptops. http://www.software4students.co.uk/

[VHG]

>Buenchico It's almost certain that the version of Microsoft Works which was provided with the laptop was a time-limited trial

I dont think Works was ever a time limited version. It was always given away with PCs.

My guess is a Works CD was provided with the laptop and the product key will be on the sleeve that came with that.

However as has already been said, using Works is not a good idea (Microsoft had stopped developing it anyway) so it is probably best just to delete it from the laptop.

[beso]

Works was given away. It was never very good.

Open Office is a better option anyway if he is just doing word processing. If he is going to be doing serious spreadsheets, Microsoft Excel would be the best move despite having to pay.

[beso]

Mosaic // I agree Openoffice is excellent but sadly the bought versions of Microsoft Office still have the edge. //

You can't really expect something with the power of the MS Office Suite for free. Having said that most people have no idea what MS Office can do and don't need it.

[AlBags]

Latest Works is ok .. but not very good at using Office software (for compatibility)
You can probably find a Works image on web .. or disc somewhere for free tho.
It's install and forget.

[trt]

Thanks for all your help.

[commoner]

BUYING Microsoft Office for my Toshiba Satellite would activate a "full-featured" suite which was preloaded but the only way to use it was to buy the key.............

[galeck1947]

Download Belarc Advisor which is free after you install it run it and it will list all of the programs installed and their product keys

[MarkRae]

How will Belarc Advisor help...?

[galeck1947]

If the program is already installed then Belarc will show the product key on every installed one with its version .It lists every thing on the computer both software and hardware and all updates and any which are missing.