Microsoft KB Archive/941425

= Frequently asked questions about the activation of Money Plus =

Article ID: 941425

Article Last Modified on 10/31/2007

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APPLIES TO


 * Microsoft Money Plus Deluxe
 * Microsoft Money Plus Home & Business
 * Microsoft Money Plus Premium

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INTRODUCTION
This article contains the most frequently asked questions about the activation of Microsoft Money Plus.



MORE INFORMATION
To fully use a purchased version Money Plus, you must activate it within 60 days. If you do not activate the product within 60 days, Money Plus will start in reduced-functionality mode. In reduced-functionality mode, Money Plus functions more like a viewer. In other words, you cannot update or save modifications to a Money Plus data file. Additional functionality may be reduced. No Money Plus files are damaged when a product runs in reduced-functionality mode.

Q1: What is product activation?

A1: Microsoft asks that you activate a product to verify that your installation is performed by using a genuine Microsoft product. Product activation is an anti-piracy technology that helps verify that a product is legitimately licensed. When you activate a product, no personal information is sent to Microsoft.

Q2: Who must activate their Money Plus product?

A2: Product activation is required for all licenses that are purchased through retail distribution or at the online store. If you purchased a new computer from a computer manufacturer, you may have to activate the Microsoft software that is installed on the computer. However, some computer manufacturers may activate the Microsoft software in the factory.

Q3: Where do I find my activation key?

A3: The activation key is a 27-character string that appears in the following format:

XX-XXXXX-XXXXX-XXXXX-XXXXX-XXXXX

When you purchase Money Plus through electronic download, the Activation Code is on the final confirmation page. The activation code is also included in a confirmation e-mail. Additionally, you can look up the Activation Code from your online store download purchase on the customer service FAQ page. To do this, visit the following Microsoft Web site:

http://store.digitalriver.com/DRHM/servlet/ControllerServlet?Action=DisplayHelpPage&SiteID=money&Locale=en_US&ThemeID=138200&Env=BASE

When you buy a physical copy of Money Plus, the activation number is on the CD case.

If your copy of Money Plus came preinstalled, the OEM will provide the Activation Code in your documentation.

Q4: How does product activation work?

A4: Product activation validates that the product key has not been used on more personal computers than are permitted by the Microsoft Software License Terms. The product key is required as part of the installation process.

You can activate the product over the Internet, by telephone, or by e-mail. If you activate a product by telephone or by e-mail, you must provide the product key that was included with your purchase of Money Plus.

If you decide to activate the product over the Internet, the process is performed automatically.

If you are not connected to the Internet or if Money Plus cannot detect your Internet connection, you will receive an error message that also gives you contact information options.

Note If Money Plus cannot detect your Internet connection, there may be a firewall or other security software on the system.

You may also visit our online store customer service FAQ for more information. To do this, visit the following Microsoft Web site:

http://store.digitalriver.com/DRHM/servlet/ControllerServlet?Action=DisplayHelpPage&SiteID=money&Locale=en_US&ThemeID=138200&Env=BASE

You may be able to resolve Internet connectivity issues in Money Plus by using the Firewall Client for ISA Servers. To do this, visit the following Microsoft Web site:

http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?FamilyID=05c2c932-b15a-4990-b525-66380743da89&DisplayLang=en

Note If you are using Money Plus in a corporate or work environment, obtain permission from the system administrator or the IT staff to do this.

Q5: How do I activate my product?

A5: To access the Money Plus activation, use one of the following methods:
 * The Money Activation Wizard appears when you start a Money Plus program that has not been activated.
 * On the Tool menu in Money Plus, click Online Services Information, and then click Activate.

In the Activation Wizard, you will be prompted to enter your activation key. You must manually type the activation code when you are prompted. Or, you can copy and paste the activation code from your confirmation e-mail if you received the activation code electronically.

Q6: What happens during product activation?

A6: During product activation, the Money Activation Wizard creates a hardware identification that represents the configuration of the computer at the time of activation. It does not include any personal information, any information about software or data that may reside on the computer, or any information about the specific make or model of the computer. The hardware identification is used to only identify the computer and is only used for activation.

The Money Activation Wizard can detect and tolerate changes to the configuration of a computer. Minor hardware upgrades do not require reactivation. However, if you make major changes to the computer over time, you may have to reactivate the product.

Q7: How does product activation protect customer privacy?

A7: Microsoft highly respects and values the protection of customers' private information. The product activation process is anonymous. No personally identifiable information is collected during product activation.

To view the Microsoft privacy policy, click the Help menu in Money Plus, and then click Privacy Statement.

Q8: Is product activation the same as registration?

A8: No. Product activation differs from product registration. You can voluntarily register the product by providing your name and contact information separately from activation. To do this, click Online Registration under the Help menu in Money Plus. Register the product if you want to receive future communications about product updates, service releases, and special offers.

Q9: How do I know if my product has been activated?

A9: The Money Activation Wizard does not run if you have already activated the product.

Q10: Does the product stop working if I do not activate it?

A10: No. Money Plus will run in reduced-functionality mode. In reduced-functionality mode, you can still view data. However, you cannot make any changes or updates.

Q11: What is reduced-functionality mode?

A11: In reduced-functionality mode, Money Plus functions similarly to a read-only data viewer. Some limitations of reduced-functionality mode include the following:
 * You cannot create new online-enabled accounts.
 * You cannot edit or update transactions.

No existing Money Plus files are damaged in reduced-functionality mode. After you activate Money Plus, full functionality is restored.

Q12: How long can I skip activation?

A12: Money Plus gives you a 60-day grace period to perform product activation.

'''Q13: How many installations can be performed with one license agreement? Can I install the product on my portable computer and on my desktop computer? How many times can I reinstall the product and still be able to activate it?'''

A13: You can install Money Plus two times by using the product key that was included with your copy or Money Plus. This means that you can install Money Plus on two separate computers or two times on the same computer.

Note If you reinstall Money Plus on the same computer, you do not have to activate Money Plus again unless you have made significant changes to that computer that would cause the activation process to believe that you are using a different computer.

Q14: What do I do if I lost my Activation Code?

A14: It is important to guard your Activation Code. In most cases, especially if you purchased a physical copy of Money Plus, the activation code cannot be recovered.

If you purchased Money Plus as an electronic download, your activation code is on the final confirmation page and is included in a confirmation e-mail. If you have lost the confirmation e-mail, or if you have to re-download the software, you may be able to look up the activation code information at our online store customer service FAQ. To do this, visit the following Microsoft Web site:

http://store.digitalriver.com/DRHM/servlet/ControllerServlet?Action=DisplayHelpPage&SiteID=money&Locale=en_US&ThemeID=138200&Env=BASE

Note Electronic download purchases have a limited time span that you can download the software, unless you purchase extended download services when you purchase the software. We recommend that you make a secure copy of the downloaded software, together with a secure copy of the activation code, the e-mail account that was used for the purchase, the last five digits of the credit card that you used for the purchase, and the special password that you created when you made the electronic purchase. This information will let you find information about your purchase when you visit the Order Status section of our online store customer service FAQ. To do this, visit the following Web site:

http://store.digitalriver.com/DRHM/servlet/ControllerServlet?Action=DisplayHelpPage&SiteID=money&Locale=en_US&ThemeID=138200&Env=BASE

'''Q15: I cannot enter the whole Activation Key. It will only let me to enter four characters instead of five in the field. Why?'''

A15: This issue can occur when Microsoft Windows is set to use Large Fonts. To resolve this issue, use one of the following methods:
 * Change the font size in Windows back to the default size. To do this, see Windows Help for information about how to change the display font size.
 * Copy the Activation Key including the dashes, and then paste it into any field in the Activation dialog box.

Note If your Activation Key was on the CD, you can type it in some other program first, such as Notepad, and then copy it from there.

Q16: What do I do if my activation fails?

A16: Activation can fail if Money Plus cannot detect your Internet connection. This may be caused by a firewall or other security software on the computer. If this occurs, you will receive an error message that gives you the contact information options. You can also visit our online store customer service FAQ for more information. To do this, visit the following Microsoft Web site:

http://store.digitalriver.com/DRHM/servlet/ControllerServlet?Action=DisplayHelpPage&SiteID=money&Locale=en_US&ThemeID=138200&Env=BASE

You may also be able to resolve Internet connectivity issues in Money Plus by using the Firewall Client for ISA Servers. To do this, visit the following Web site:

http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?FamilyID=05c2c932-b15a-4990-b525-66380743da89&DisplayLang=en

Note If you are using Money Plus in a corporate or work environment, verify with the system administrator or IT staff that this is permitted.

'''Q17: The activation process says that I am not connected to the Internet, but I am. What do I do?'''

A17: Activation can fail if Money Plus cannot detect your Internet Connection. This may be caused by a firewall or other security software on the computer.

For more information, click the following article number to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

899935 You cannot connect use a feature in Money that requires an Internet connection

You may also be able to resolve Internet connectivity issues in Money Plus by using the Firewall Client for ISA Servers. To do this, visit the following Web site:

http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?FamilyID=05c2c932-b15a-4990-b525-66380743da89&DisplayLang=en

Note If you are using Money Plus in a corporate or work environment, verify with the system administrator or IT staff to see whether this is permitted.

'''Q18: When I try to start Money Plus, I see a big, blank dialog box called Activate Money. Why?'''

A18: This issue can occur if the computer’s system date was incorrectly set into the future when you installed Money Plus.

To resolve this issue, obtain a new Activation Key and force Money Plus to request the new key. For contact information and for help, see our online store customer service FAQ. To do this, visit the following Microsoft Web site:

http://store.digitalriver.com/DRHM/servlet/ControllerServlet?Action=DisplayHelpPage&SiteID=money&Locale=en_US&ThemeID=138200&Env=BASE

Keywords: kbhowto kbactivation kbexpertisebeginner kbfaq kbinfo KB941425

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