Why can' t I get rid of Office 2019

jimbo45 · Friday at 4:48 AM

Hi folks

I Installed Office 2021 on somebody's computer running Windows 11 HOME. No office had been installed on it previously but it always showed as Office/365 -- even though it wasn't - and no expiry / subscription etc other stuff.

I suspect on Windows 11 HOME there's some rubbish in licensing, registry values or whatever.

The only way to really be sure is to try something in the version of office that you "think" you installed which doesn't exist in the "Named version" and see if it executes.

Cheers
jimbo

pewe · Friday at 10:15 AM

@XxXxX I tried the 'licenses' directory removal again - still no luck.
I also ran the script to check licenses and this is what it came up with

So the registration key is for o2024, and yet, the version that opens is 2019 according to the 'Account' information (see previous screen shots)

Tester · Friday at 12:44 PM

RFS said:
my duaghter and son-in-law took out a MS 365 Office subscription, but as they only needed a maximum of 4 licences, they kindly gifted me one.

pewe said:
2019 was legal, and it shows up in Previous Purchases in my MS account, under which I installed it.

So in your microsoft account you have your 2019 license, and your logged in with that, and thats what microsoft shows you as licencing.
And you only used the installer and product key from a other user, and not logged in with that. So i guyess your not really using the license how you should be using it?

I guess you have to look at this, as this shows the 2024 version accuratly.

What happens if you block office in the firewall, and this file? Does it then still retrieve the 2019 license from your account?
C:\program files\microsoft office\root\vfs\programfilescommonx64\microsoft shared\office16\olicenseheartbeat.exe

That said, does your office btw update with windows update? As there is a newer build available already. As that might be a licencing problem as well, if its not updating automaticly.

Tester · Friday at 1:17 PM

Try this:

Close all Office applications.

Use explorer to go to c:\program data\Microsoft\office\licences and delete all files in this directory.

(The \program data folder may be hidden. If so, click on “show” at the top of explorer and then on “show hidden items”.)

Restart Word. You will be asked to log in or you can choose to enter the product key. Do not log in, but then enter the key again and the identification will normally be correct as Office 2024.

pewe · Friday at 1:33 PM

RFS said:
Deleting the licences directory fixed the problem for me and I no longer see Office 2021 listed. When I restarted Outlook, I was merely asked to accept the licence key and that was that.

Weird - because it didn't work for me BUT - this is what the 'Account section in Word or Excel shows

and this is what shows when I run the script ospp.vbs

Tester · Friday at 3:31 PM

Weird - because it didn't work for me BUT - this is what the 'Account section in Word or Excel shows

After deleting the folder.
Restart Word. You will be asked to log in or you can choose to enter the product key. Do not log in.
You also stated you where logged in. Try it again, without logging in.

pewe · Friday at 7:07 PM

Tester said:
After deleting the folder.
Restart Word. You will be asked to log in or you can choose to enter the product key. Do not log in.
You also stated you where logged in. Try it again, without logging in.

Did that - no joy.
It did say I should update manually after opening WOrd (not logged in) and this is what happened.

Tester · Friday at 7:43 PM

Then i am a out of options what to do.

I do know the update message "you're up to date!" is wrong, as there at 2 updates after this build you should be able to get. I do know people that use illigal office, they also get the message your're up to date, while there on a old version, and they never get updates offered. So i guess something still not right with the license.

pewe · Friday at 8:41 PM

Tester said:
Then i am a out of options what to do.

I do know the update message "you're up to date!" is wrong, as there at 2 updates after this build you should be able to get. I do know people that use illigal office, they also get the message your're up to date, while there on a old version, and they never get updates offered. So i guess something still not right with the license.

I've had 2019 installed for 4 years. I had WIndows 10 and when that used to update Office 2019 (bought from an MS accredited source) did too. If it was not legit would it have updated. Since I transferred it to my current laptop with WIndows 11 I've never checked so don't know if it has been updating.
My online MS account has 2019 recorded so that is why I'm puzzled about my problems.
So my next question would have to be - how do I clear all references to Office from my laptop so I can start from scratch with the 2024.

antspants · Friday at 9:00 PM

pewe said:
how do I clear all references to Office from my laptop so I can start from scratch with the 2024.

I cant speak for other people but I would uninstall it using Revo, ask Revo to remove extras.

Then I would go into appdata and delete any folder that says Microsoft Office.
C:\users\username\appdata
Check and remove from all locations from within appdata - Local, LocalLow, and Roaming
I would also delete any folder referring to Microsoft Office in the following locations:

Program Data
Program Files
Program Files x86

Any folder needed for Office will get re-added upon installation of Office

But before any surgery on your OS, creating a backup image first is always advised.

Again, this is what I would do, others might disagree.

Also
I don’t believe Microsoft Accounts have an option to unlink Office 2019 (or 2021) from your account where as I believe M365 does.

pewe · Friday at 9:25 PM

antspants said:
I cant speak for other people but I would uninstall it using Revo, ask Revo to remove extras.

Then I would go into appdata and delete any folder that says Microsoft Office.
C:\users\username\appdata
Check and remove from all locations from within appdata - Local, LocalLow, and Roaming
I would also delete any folder referring to Microsoft Office in the following locations:

Program Data
Program Files
Program Files x86

Any folder needed for Office will get re-added upon installation of Office

But before any surgery on your OS, creating a backup image first is always advised.

Again, this is what I would do, others might disagree.

Also
I don’t believe Microsoft Accounts have an option to unlink Office 2019 (or 2021) from your account where as I believe M365 does.

Thanks for that.
I did try to uninstall with Revo, which had no effect - 2019 still came back when I ran an install. However, I did not go through all the other deletions you suggested - so I will try that and see what happens.
Thanks again.

antspants · Friday at 9:26 PM

pewe said:
Thanks for that.
I did try to uninstall with Revo, which had no effect - 2019 still came back when I ran an install. However, I did not go through all the other deletions you suggested - so I will try that and see what happens.
Thanks again.

Please make a system image/backup first. One never knows.

Also, if anyone disagrees with my advice, please speak out now

pewe · Friday at 9:28 PM

antspants said:
Please make a system image/backup first. One never knows.

Also, if anyone disagrees with my advice, please speak up now

antspants · Friday at 9:35 PM

I have to say, this is rather strange.
If you have removed Office 2019, installed M365 and double checked you’re using the correct activation key, I can’t understand why this is happening.

Have you added you product key at your Microsoft Account to check it is valid (if bought directly from Microsft then it would be, obviously)

Where to enter your Office product key - Microsoft Support

support.microsoft.com

Marcus Vinicus · Friday at 9:36 PM

Re uninstalling manually. I've seen online a walkthrough on how to uninstall Office 2016 manually and it is complex. In addition to removing files and registry entries it involves removing a decent list of tasks relating to Office in the Task Scheduler. Removing the licensing stuff has to be done from the command prompt.

pewe · Friday at 9:45 PM

antspants said:
I have to say, this is rather strange.
If you have removed Office 2019, installed M365 and double checked you’re using the correct activation key, I can’t understand why this is happening.

Have you added you product key at your Microsoft Account to check it is valid (if bought directly from Microsft then it would be, obviously)

Where to enter your Office product key - Microsoft Support

support.microsoft.com

I tried that and this is what I get once I enter the registration key

antspants · Friday at 9:53 PM

Apparently you’re not the only person getting the Service Unavailable message.

Perhaps try to contact Microsoft Support:

Visit this website: Contact - Microsoft Support

Type in your problems in the search box there. For instance, subscription/Tax invoices/refund, etc.
Now click Get help, and Select Contact Support below.
Go to the Products and services tab, and choose either Microsoft 365 and Office category or Other Products
On the Category tab, choose Manage My Subscription or other alternatives.
Go to Confirm.
You can now choose the option of Chat with a support agent on your web browser.

Please Note: The Chat support team only works at certain times, so if the last window says you are not available, try to open it again the next day. If you prefer phone support, you can leave a phone number.

antspants · Friday at 9:58 PM

I can only assume that the download you recieve would reflect the product key you enter. I’d advise Microsoft support. They should also be able to check for any problems with your Product Key.

dacrone · Friday at 11:06 PM

Uninstall office via revo. Reboot. Double check inside AppData Roaming, LocalAppData, ProgramData, Program Files and Program Files 86 for anything missed. Then follow these steps up to the activation. Instead of using the preview key, enter your actual key to activate.

Download & Install "Free" Microsoft Office 2024 LTSC Preview

Learn how to install Microsoft Office LTSC Preview version with this easy step-by-step guide. Get insights on configuration, deployment, and activation. Contact Medha Cloud for licensed Microsoft products.

medhacloud.com

cheaterslick · Saturday at 12:26 PM

In Revo, I pick "Advanced Mode" after it uninstalls using it's uninstaller, then I expand it full screen and tick all the Bold entries you see. You have to be careful and only tick the BOLDED registry entries and not the unbolded menus near each one. There could be a lot, making it time consuming and tedious, but that's the only way I know of using advanced registry mode in Revo.

Finally, I then delete all folders associated with it by using the "Select All" button down at the bottom.

Why can' t I get rid of Office 2019

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