How to convert a trial version of a 2007 Office suite or program to a full retail perpetual license version

When your trial version of the Microsoft 2007 Office suite or program expires, you may have the option to convert the trial version to the full retail perpetual license version. This article describes how to determine whether your trial version is eligible for conversion and describes how to make this conversion.

This article is intended for a beginning to intermediate computer user. You may find it easier to follow the steps if you print this article first.

Step 1: Determine whether your trial version is convertible

The following trial versions of the 2007 Office suite or programs may be eligible for conversion to full retail perpetual license versions:

• Microsoft Office Professional 2007 Trial
• Microsoft Office Small Business 2007 Trial
• Microsoft Office Standard 2007 Trial
• Microsoft Office Home and Student 2007 Trial
• Microsoft Office Groove 2007 Trial
• Microsoft Office InfoPath 2007 Trial
• Microsoft Office OneNote 2007 Trial
• Microsoft Office Publisher 2007 Trial
• Microsoft Office Project Standard 2007 Trial
• Microsoft Office Visio 2007 Trial

If you determine that your 2007 Office suite or programs may be convertible, go to step 2.

Note Not all trial versions of the 2007 Office suite or programs can be converted to the full retail perpetual license version. A trial version that cannot be converted does not have a conversion option anywhere in the user interface.

If the trial version of the 2007 Office suite or program is not convertible, you must remove the trial version and then install the full retail perpetual license version.

If you cannot remove the trial version and install the full retail perpetual license version, go to the "Next steps" section for additional resources that may be able to help.

Step 2: Purchase a perpetual license product key

When you decide to convert your trial version of the 2007 Office suite or program to a full retail perpetual license version, you must first purchase a full, licensed copy of the software. You can purchase the full, licensed software from the Microsoft Web site. You can also purchase a full, licensed copy of the software from any authorized retail store. If you purchase the software from the Microsoft Web site, the perpetual license product key will be provided to you by Microsoft. If you purchase the software from an authorized retail store, the perpetual license product key will be included with the software package.

After you have purchased a full, licensed copy of the software and have a perpetual license product key, go to step 3.

If you cannot purchase a perpetual license product key, go to the "Next steps" section for additional resources that may be able to help.

Step 3: Use one of the conversion methods to convert the trial version to the full retail perpetual license version

There are three methods that you can use to convert your trial version of the 2007 Office suite or program to the full retail perpetual license version of that suite or program.

If you have not activated your trial version of Microsoft Office, use "Method 1: The pre-activation method." If you have already activated the trial version, use "Method 2: The post-activation method." If you have a 2007 Microsoft Office Trial CD, use "Method 3: The Maintenance mode method."

If you cannot use any of these methods to convert your trial version of the 2007 Office suite or program to the full retail perpetual license version of that suite or program, go to the "Next steps" section for additional resources that may be able to help.

Method 1: The pre-activation method

This method lets you use the Trial Activation Wizard dialog box to convert to the full retail perpetual license version of the 2007 Office suite or program. Use this method when you first try to activate the trial version of the 2007 Office suite or program.

When you are prompted to activate your trial version of the 2007 Office suite or program, click I do not want to activate my copy. Instead, I want to convert to the full version now, and then click Next. Go to step 4.

Method 2: The post-activation method

This method lets you convert to the full retail perpetual license version by using the Activation Wizard expiration reminders. Use this method after you activate the trial version of the 2007 Office suite or program.

After you activate the trial version of a suite or program, you can convert to the full retail perpetual license version when the Activation Wizard expiration reminders appear. In the Activation Wizard expiration reminder, click Convert to start the conversion to the full retail perpetual license version.

You can also open the Activation Wizard expiration reminder when you are ready to convert. To do this, follow these steps in one of the options, depending on which program that you want to convert:

Option 1: For Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook and Access programs

If you are using the trial version of 2007 Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, or Access, follow these steps:

1. Start the trial version of the 2007 Office program.
2. Click Microsoft Office Button
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   , and then click program_name Options.
3. Click the Resources tab, and then click Activate. Go to step 4.

Option 2: For all other 2007 Office programs

If you are using the trial version of any other 2007 Office programs, follow these steps:

1. Start the trial version of the 2007 Office program.
2. Click Help, and then click Activate Product. Go to step 4.

Method 3: The Maintenance mode method

If you have a 2007 Office trial CD, you can use this method to convert to the full retail perpetual license version. To do this, follow these steps:

1. Insert a CD for the trial version of the 2007 Office suite or program in the CD or DVD drive. The CD Explorer window appears.
2. Double-click Setup. This procedure starts the Setup program of the trial version of the suite or program in Maintenance mode.
3. Click Convert License, and then click Next.

Note You can also reach Maintenance mode by using the Add or Remove Programs feature in Control Panel.

Step 4: Activate the product key

After you convert the trial version of the 2007 Office suite or program to a full retail perpetual license version, complete the conversion process by activating the product key. To do this, follow these steps:

1. In the Trial Activation Wizard dialog box, click Enter Product Key.
2. Type your 25-character product key in the five Product Key boxes.
3. Click Continue.
4. Click to select the I accept the terms in the License Agreement check box, and then click Install.

The trial version of the 2007 Office suite or program will now be updated to the full retail perpetual license version.

If you cannot activate your product key, go to the "Next steps" section for additional resources that may be able to help.

If these steps to convert your trial version of a 2007 Office suite or program to a full retail perpetual license version did not work for you, you can use the Microsoft Customer Support Services Web site to find other solutions to your problem. Some services that the Microsoft Customer Support Services Web site provides include the following:

• Searchable Knowledge Base (http://support.microsoft.com/search/?adv=1) : Search technical support information and self-help tools for Microsoft products.
• Solution Centers (http://support.microsoft.com/select/?target=hub) : View product-specific frequently asked questions and support highlights.
• Microsoft Customer Support Newsgroups (http://www.microsoft.com/communities/newsgroups/default.mspx) : Contact counterparts, peers, and Microsoft Most Valuable Professionals (MVPs).
• Other Support Options (http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?pr=csshome) : Use the Web to ask a question, contact Microsoft Customer Support Services, or provide feedback.

If you continue to have problems after you use these Microsoft Web sites or if you cannot find a solution to the problem on the Microsoft Support Services Web site, click the following link to contact Support.