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March 5, 2025

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Stefan Blom - Charles Kenyon - Suzanne S. Barnhill - Doug Robbins - MVP Office Apps & Services (Word) - Bob Jones AKA: CyberTaz ✅

March 10, 2025

Word Top Contributors:

Stefan Blom - Charles Kenyon - Suzanne S. Barnhill - Doug Robbins - MVP Office Apps & Services (Word) - Bob Jones AKA: CyberTaz ✅

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Kim Maxx

Microsoft Update deleted Word from my computer

An automatic update deleted Word and Explorer from my computer. I didn't care about Explorer but needed Word, so I browsed the Microsoft forums looking for advice. I noticed that other people had complained of the same issue and weren't getting solutions. Office was still on my computer, but the Word icon was missing, and when I tried to open my files I would get an error message. I decided to use System Recovery to restore my computer to a week earlier. The Word icon re-appeared but the program still would not open. I tried Quick Repair but it did nothing. Finally I click on Online Repair. It re-installed Office on my computer, and Word was working fine; but some time later, a message popped up saying that I had 6 days to enter my product key before Word would become inoperable. I haven't been able to find my product key; that was why I didn't try uninstalling and reinstalling in the first place. Office is an expensive purchase. I bought it last year and am not happy that a Microsoft update deleted the program from my computer. I'm looking for the key, but if I don't find it I need another solution.

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WhyYouDoThis

uhm ms updates don't delete softwares, system restore would...

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Floyd EWright II

well brother i signed up here at microsoft.com and got an outlook email. word,outlook,drive,excel and a few others for free. all 2014.. might want to try it, if you lose your program.

the good luck.

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CMG1971

Sorry but happened on my windows 8 Machine also, Since I have the 365 thing I didnt need my key. So it may not intentionally remove software it can and does seem to misplace it.

Now back to the issue, IF you registered it with Microsoft you may be able to contact them and give them the email used, They might be able to restore your lost key.

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Kim Maxx

I may have registered it with my old Microsoft ID. Unfortunately, they won't let me recover my old account, even though I have the password and answers to the security questions.

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Kim Maxx

It would be great if one of the "dedicated support engineers who are well trained on Microsoft Office products" would respond to my problem. The Microsoft rep who directed me here assured me that I would "get a [satisfying] response from our engineers" if I posted here.

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Stefan Blom

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See http://office.microsoft.com/en-us/support/how-do-i-recover-or-replace-a-lost-microsoft-office-product-key-HA104172018.aspx (How do I recover or replace a lost Microsoft Office product key?).

Stefan Blom
MS 365 Word MVP since 2005
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MS 365, Win 11 Pro
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Note that I do not work for Microsoft
https://mvp.microsoft.com/
~~~
Please specify Word version & OS in your question

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Kim Maxx

I have Office 2013. I may have registered it with my old Microsoft ID. Unfortunately, I haven't been allowed to recover my old account, even though I have the password and answers to the security questions. So the recovery option listed at this link won't work for me.

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Kim Maxx

I didn't lose Office 2013, only Word. The recovery options listed require either a product key or access to my old Microsoft account, which I have not been allowed to access despite having the password and security answers. Haven't found the product key either.

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Stefan Blom

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Did you get an explanation from Microsoft Support of why your account can't be recovered?

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Kim Maxx

Yeah, having the password and security answers isn't enough to retrieve an inactive account. I have to include a bunch of other info, like who I e-mailed from that account most recently and what subject headings I used (like I would remember that). Apparently the other info I included wasn't accurate enough.... I'm trying again though. Still haven't located product key.

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Question Info

Last updated March 1, 2024 Views 5,185 Applies to:

Microsoft 365 and Office
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Word
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For home
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Windows