Downloaded Office 2010 (had a disc but without driver wouldn't play). Used the key that came with the disc. Downloaded ok. I can find it in the apps, I can even have it open but when I try to open a Word file I receive in an email for example I get the screen that asks me to either buy it or if I already have it, to enter the key. Enter the key and it says it's not valid, but is the key I used to download. What am I missing?
Yes. The key came from the Office Pro 2010 disc I have. Did what was called a re-install (although this is a different computer) since I couldn't run the disc on this new Acer, since it didn't have a disc driver. Did download a disc drive (VLC?) but still wouldn't run, so went to the re-install from download using the key from the disc.
When you say it "doesn't have a driver" do you mean it doesn't have an optical drive? Are you trying to install it on more than one PC? I do believe you are only allowed to install it on one PC.
On the box it states it's licensed for non commercial use on up to 3 PC's. This would be the second PC, using this key. Windows 8 evidently doesn't come with driver software, so I couldn't install Office from the disc.
Windows 8 comes with a lot of standard drivers, CD/DVD drives being one of them. If Auto Play is turned off the disk will not start all by itself when you insert it. You would have to run the setup.exe file. Does the DVD drive show up correctly in device manager?
Has a CD-ROM driver that says is Running. Has a CD/DVD File System Reader that is disabled. Not sure if that is what you mean. A boatload of listing under System Drivers.
Just to clarify, a "driver" is the software that is installed to allow windows to use a device. The term "CD-ROM driver" to me means software. The CD-ROM drive is the hard ware, the actual optical drive. Did Windows come preinstalled on this PC? If yes then the optical drive should be working. It sounds like you are saying its disabled. If yes, can you enable it in device manager?
If you do not have CD/DVD drive in your computer, or it does not work, you can always copy disk contents to a USB memory stick at a computer that has it and install Office from it.
This Acer Aspire has a CD-ROM. No discs play when they are inserted as Windows 8 does not seem to come with any software that plays CD/DVDs. From what I understand you need to download a 3rd party software to do that. Windows 8 was pre-installed on this Acer. But, the point is, I have already re-installed via download Office 2010. Windows 8 just doesn't 'see' it.
To be specific - I can open up Word 2010 for example from the download I did. I can create a Word document. I can save a Word document if its created with 'that' Word, but if I try to open the Word document I created and saved, I get the screen that says it appears I'm trying to use Office and asks me to buy Office or Activate it. If I try and Activate it (since I already own it and have installed it) it asks for a key. I enter the key. When I enter the key, it says its invalid.
OK - I've just downloaded OFFICE 2010 Pro AGAIN. I believe part of the problem was that the Office icon that comes with the idiotic tile start screen automatically defaults to the Buy or Activate screen. I deleted that shortcut that came with Windows 8, found the programs that I had downloaded and sort of pinned them to the Start screen. I can open stuff I created with Office 2010. Still can't figure out how to get a CD/DVD to play, but I'll open a new thread for that. Windows 8 IMO should be labeled Windows 6. It is a huge PAIN and I am on the verge of dumping it and installing Windows 7. What a POS.
You'll need codecs to play some types of videos but Windows 8's Media Player can play DVD's and CD's ho problem. You don't need anything third party to run data cd's like office. I have auto play turned off so disks will not auto start on their own. I manually run the setup file from the DVD though explorer. If you go into control panel and turn auto play on, you should get prompted with a menu of options to do with that disk when you put it in the drive. Also check device manager and see if the drive is listed OK with no yellow ! or red X. If you can get your drive working you should be able to install from your CD. Once its installed properly there should be tiles on the Start Menu for each office application. I can't help you with the product key not being accepted by the downloaded version. I don't have any experience in that area.