Find an office 2003 product key

Office 2003: Finding or Changing The Product Key

If you need to retrieve a product key for Office 2003, or replace it, you must refer to the System Registry.  Below are the steps which need to be followed to accomplish this.  Remember, serious problems might occur if you modify the registry incorrectly.  Be sure to follow these steps carefully. Back up the registry before you modify it, just in case.

Note: If you make any changes to the registry entry, you will be prompted for a product key the next time you open the product, so have it ready.

1. Close all open programs.
2. Click START
3. Type “regedit” Press ctrl-Shift-Enter
4. Find and click the following subkey, depending on your version of Windows and Office:

32-bit Systems
2007 Office system – HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE SoftwareMicrosoftOffice12.0Registration
Office 2003 – HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE SoftwareMicrosoftOffice11.0Registration
Office XP  – HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE SoftwareMicrosoftOffice10.0Registration

64-bit versions
2007 Office system – KEY_LOCAL_MACHINESOFTWAREWow6432NodeMicrosoftOffice12.0Registration
Office 2003 – KEY_LOCAL_MACHINESOFTWAREWow6432NodeMicrosoftOffice11.0Registration
Office XP  – KEY_LOCAL_MACHINESOFTWAREWow6432NodeMicrosoftOffice10.0Registration

5. (Optional, but STRONGLY suggested) Export the Registration subkey. This creates a backup.
 a. Right-click the Registration subkey, and then click Export.
 b. Select a location to save the registration entries.
 c. Type a name for the .reg file.
 d. Click Save.
6. The Registration subkey may have several Globally Unique Identifiers (GUID).  Each GUID is specific to a program that is installed on your computer.
7. Click a GUID. Then, view the version of Office that is listed in the right pane for the Productname registry entry.
8. Repeat step 7 until you have located your version of Office.
9. If you are not changing this key, go to step 12.
10. Right-click the DigitalProductID registry entry, click Delete, and then click Yes.
11. Right-click the ProductID registry entry, click Delete, and then click Yes.
12. Exit the Registry Editor.
13. Start Microsoft Office.  You will be prompted for the product code key.

Article written by MyComputerAid.com