From: jpaul@locus.com (James Hensley)
Subject: Changing winword 2.0 Licensed to name
Organization: Locus Computing Corporation, Los Angeles, California
Date: Fri, 09 Oct 1992 00:42:51 GMT


I would like to thank everyone who answered my question.  I was stupid
and installed from the original, media, never thinking that ANY software
would write on the original install disks.  Boy was I wrong. 

Here's a summary of the mail I got about changing the 'licensed to'
name on ww2.0.  
Turns out I have 2.0a, I am out of luck.  However, microsoft will send me 
2.0b free! (Helps to be a licensed user)

MAJOR CLUE:  Take heed of these posts BEFORE you install (wish I had).

Names and addresses of respondents have been removed.

Oh yea: microsoft tech support: 		206-462-9676
		  sales: (They helped me)	800-323-3577
Somewhone who will tell you to call tech supt:	
(Actually non-end-user support)			800-426-9400


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Hey James!

  Listen, I would be eternally grateful if you could post a *clear*
summary of the answers you receive on this question.  I'm sure
there are people out there who know, 'cuz the question's been asked
before, and answered I believe...

  Thanks, and good luck!


: I installed winword 2.0 on a machine here in the office.  I put the name
: of our last office manager for the 'licensed to' name.  He's now left, and
: the new guy doesn't want the old guy's name on it any more.  I called
: gateway tech support (it came bundled with some 486s), and they didn't 
: know how to do this.  I can't find it in any manual, either.  I am posing 
: the question here before I call the microsoft 900 number.  Any clues

If you've got the original WinWord 2.0, make a copy of the original Disk 1.
On this disk, read the file WWORD20.INF into an ASCII editor, and search for
the string [user]. After this line, there will be two lines of random 
characters (the current licensee's name, encrypted), followed by a comment
and two more lines of random characters. Copy these two lines, and replace
the two first lines of random charcaters. Then reinstall the main
WinWord 2.0 files. SETUP will ask for a new name during the installation.

Regrettably (for us, that is :-), Microsoft removed this possibility from
WinWord 2.0a, but if you make a copy of the WWORD20.INF file (or just 
those 2 lines) before your first insatllation, you can reinstall with a 
new name as many times as you like. This works in Excel 4.0 as well.

Hope this helps!

-------------------------------------------------

This may be a little difficult but you could use something like Norton
Utilities to search for the embedded text string and then edit it there.
Of course, I wouldn't want to make it any longer than the old one this
way. This is probably an approach of last resort though ie. make lots of
bakcup before trying it.

[Won't work; name is encrypted as described above -- J]

-------------------------------------------------------------------------

The "licensed to" name is on an .EXE file on the startup 1 disk, and it 
probably gets very upset when you try to hack it out with a sector editor.  
Try using DISCCOPY to duplicate the first disk, then install from the copy.  
If the name is on that copy, you are probably out of luck.

You might TRY using Norton Diskedit to find the name on the affected file, 
then typing over that name.  (Be sure to copy this file elsewhere first.  
Also, be prepared to re-install the whole thing if it doesn't work.  You are 
taking a major chance!)

[same comment as above -- encrypted.]

---------------------------------------------------------------------------

[ Here's a couple that make no bones about info.  -- Thanks, Guys/Gals!
(Don't know if they only work for 2.0, maybe not for 2.0a.]

---------------------------------------------------------------------------

To change the registered user info in WFW, you need to reinstall WFW.
If you originally installed WFW from the distribution disks rather than
from a copy, the setup program changed the file WWORD20.INF. Restore
the following 2 lines in WWORD20.INF before you install WFW and it will
once again ask you to enter your name.

[user]
vXR26xdEtgjkas@2346gfvbnmm122882fPt201?s2qQa1234567890
Txny9k4vuyJeffjo281ion09n638ks23.56sTossWzJt1234567890


[WHOOPS!  The lines in the last post and this post differ!  Look out!]

--------------------------------------------------------------------------

To keep this short to uninstall the Word 2.0 disk 1 find the file wword20.inf.
In it is a section marked [user] replace the two lines there with the two below

jkoM3LHzzFKU5gwbn6gSPL?.bRpD5eOsAZhLv4WkIy?TnF1cQqvqOb
RmMzhmZbREmjhyZYPmyhmqmm9gMu6XjJx0UmG.bRpD5eOsAZhLFs2c

Next time you use this disk to install it will ask you to input the name and
company of your choice.

BTW a similar system exists with Excel, I'm not sure about the other MS
products.

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MORAL:	Always back up disks BEFORE you do ANYTHING with them.
	I've learned my lesson (should have known better).
	Also always register your software.

James

System, mail, and network administrator
Locus Computing Corp
San Diego Office
jpaul@locus.com		 ...ucsd!lccsd!jpaul

-- 

jpaul@locus.com  | ..ucsd!lccsd!jpaul   :  all views expressed are mine.
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