"Illegal" copy

James123_2

I've been using Microsoft Office (2003) for many years on the same computer without a problem. To my certain recollection in came bundled with the hardware.
In the last few weeks I've had warning messages (very polite) on boot-up telling me that Microsoft Outlook might be illegal. I've ignored these and now the message has changed to a countdown of x number of days until it is 'marked as illegal'.
Has anyone any experience of this? I've not set out to use illegal software. I had been using this set-up successfully for five years. I think the problems started when I downloaded IE8 ... but I'm probably mistaken.
THANKS for reading all this ... sorry it's SO long!

Money_Grabber13579

Did you buy your computer from PC World by any chance? If so, it looks like another poster tonight has the exact same issue!

It appears to come from a genuine validation update which has recently been downloaded.

James123_2

Hi!
Thanks for the reply. No, it came from Dell. Is there anything I can do to remedy this or is the only solution to spend ££££ on Office? I assume the program will continue to run even if marked as 'not genuine'?

[Deleted User]

If it came preinstalled with the machine then you should have been provided with the disc and a certificate of authenticity, in which case it should be very simple to resolve even if it involves a quick phonecall.

If not, then you need to go back to Dell and challenge them.

Lord_Blue

There is usually a certificate sticker underneath a Dell PC/Laptop that will have a your registered number on it. Probably just a case of providing this.

mr_fishbulb

James123 - what is the exact wording of the message?

Have you every had anyone fix your computer in the past?

Can you download the Microsoft Genuine Advantage tool and post what it says - http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?linkid=52012

Edit - just noticed a similar post here - http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/showthread.html?t=1983179

Fonz_2

Office hardly ever comes pre-installed on hardware so it's worth checking your records to see if it actually is listed on the invoice etc.

withabix

It will be the new version of the Microsoft Genuine Advantage tool that has caused this.

James123_2

Thanks for all the great replies.
As to the exact wording of the warning, I've rebooted my machine to find this. However, there was no warning. It seems to be programmed to flash this up each day on first boot-up only. It's been doing this for 2 weeks. The message basically told me earlier today that I had 8 days before the program would be marked as illegal.
If I can't find discs, codes etc I guess I really will have to stop using this or find some £££.
Phew!

isofa

Fonz wrote: »

Office hardly ever comes pre-installed on hardware so it's worth checking your records to see if it actually is listed on the invoice etc.

Depends if you asked for it in the bundle. All the Dells we buy we spec Office standard or Pro as part of the order, and naturally all are pre-installed.

The fault, as others have said, is the WGA Tool misreporting, a mess MS has created.

isofa

James123 wrote: »

Thanks for all the great replies.
As to the exact wording of the warning, I've rebooted my machine to find this. However, there was no warning. It seems to be programmed to flash this up each day on first boot-up only. It's been doing this for 2 weeks. The message basically told me earlier today that I had 8 days before the program would be marked as illegal.
If I can't find discs, codes etc I guess I really will have to stop using this or find some £££.
Phew!

James, go to the Dell site, support section, put in your service tag and check what the original order came with, it's more than likely you had Office as part of the bundle.

I doubt anything is illegal, just an misreporting tool from a MS update.