I unable to activate MS Office Home and Student (a one-time purchase, not 365) on a PC I purchased

[TE-PE]

I purchased to PC in early 2020 with MS Office Home and Student as a one-time purchase.  I am only getting it powered up for the first time now (03/07/2024).   When I try to open an office application, I get a screen that has a button to ACTIVATE, but when I press it , it defaults to the License agreement for Office 365.   HP troubleshooting says that since I purchased this PC with MS Office H&S, I shouldn't need the product key to activate it.  (I don't even know the key.)  Help!

[BeemerBiker]

That software comes with a key printed on a small card to activate it. It is the size of a credit card and the card is usually found in a slot at the back of the insert.  Once install and activated it will show up on your Microsoft account when you expand "subscriptions" even though it is not a subscription.  It is locked to your account and cannot be transferred to another user.

[TE-PE]

Thanks for the reply.  I managed to resolve (not sure how) my issue prior to seeing your post, but since you were kind enough to reply to my original post, I thought you might be interested in what happened.

I shut my computer down after posting, and, after looking at open software options, I decided to power up my pc yesterday morning (3/9/24) and consider just accepting Office 365.   Since it had been so long since I bought it, I was prompted to update the software, which I did.  My computer then prompted me to register it with HP, whigh I did not do during my initial start up a few days ago (I assumed since the computer is now 4 years old, what good is the warranty?).  I completed the registration.  I then opened Excel to verify what I thought was going to be Office 365, but, up popped a box that instead read, "You've got Office, Your new device includes Microsoft Office Home and Student 2019."  I accepted the services agreement and license agreement, and confirmed a notice that I would be emailed the product key (there wasn't a printed card shipped with my device).  An email from Microsoft arrived shortly, which I saved, and my Office 2019 was up and running!

Did my verification work for my second startup because my computer received the updates?  Or, did my registration with HP result in my success because it recognized my purchase?

[BeemerBiker]

It was the registration.

I had the 2016 version and it was missing Outlook.  I did not care back then as I had been using outlook express but when OE finally died I found "Windows Mail" unusable and ended up buying 365 subscription to get outlook.  However, my brother somehow got 2019 office pro for about $20 USD.  I have seen offer like that on Facebook and advertised on MSN and even over at answers.microsoft they acknowledge the licenses are valid.  There must have been a promotion in 2019 and a lot of licenses went unused.

[TE-PE · Accepted solution]

Thanks.  I’ll be sure to remember that for future purchases.