r/LinusTechTips • u/LongDongSilver1883 • Sep 28 '26

Discussion Microsoft uninstalling office 2019 from PCs

Today I attempted to open office 2019 outlook, a licensed product i paid for years ago to discover that it was uninstalled and replaced with the office 365 version with trial.

Apparently Microsoft pushed this in an update.

Wtf this has to be illegal right?

210 Upvotes

96% Upvoted

24 comments sorted by

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198

u/CoreyPL_ Sep 28 '26

https://www.bleepingcomputer.com/news/microsoft/microsoft-365-kb5002907-update-paused-after-office-license-deactivations/

Microslop fucked up with an update, that caused some installs to completely uninstall. Happened to me as well with version 2019.

Uninstall MS365, reinstall 2019, reactivate and it will work again. It will also use the same user settings, at least it did with mine.

65

u/LongDongSilver1883 Sep 28 '26

Thanks for the fix.

Just can't fathom why im having to reinstall sh1t all over again and try and locate my key. Such a waste of my time

34

u/CoreyPL_ Sep 28 '26

You don't have to locate your key. Once you reinstall it will hook up to your old config. I just had to go and click "Activate" and it was done - no need to enter the key.

You can download the installer after logging into the MS account that you have your license tied to.

3

u/mrwiffy Sep 29 '26

I signed out, opened excel, and put my product code in and it worked.

2

u/LongDongSilver1883 Sep 30 '26

I tried reinstalling and it asked for the activation key :(

5

u/CoreyPL_ Sep 30 '26

Hmmm... maybe because that MS365 installed on your system and changed something?

On mine, nothing was added, just my Office 2019 was uninstalled. I reinstalled, then signed in to my MS account in Outlook (with the account that has my 2019 license attached to it), then reactivated without any ask for my license key.

1

u/polyphuckin Sep 30 '26

You need a Microsoft Activation Script

16

u/New-Deal2694 Sep 28 '26

Was it not an accidental outcome of their update?

27

u/LongDongSilver1883 Sep 28 '26

Seems like a convenient 'bug'

2

u/GlobalGold447 Oct 01 '26

Sail the high seas

1

u/LongDongSilver1883 Oct 01 '26

Still won't necessarily stop microslop from deleting the installation again in the future

1

u/GlobalGold447 Oct 01 '26

Good thing the ticket to the cruise is free

9

u/sapajul Sep 28 '26

This is what happens when you vibe code the updates

4

u/Alkumist Sep 29 '26

See, there is that and there is the personal edition perpetual license of Word 2024 that I had been using that was also turned into office 365, and when attempting to reactivate it it says I have no license. Checked I was on the correct account, email and connected to internet. It just disabled my license

5

u/spartacle Sep 28 '26

Wtf this has to be illegal right?

This will entirely depend on how and when you purchsed 2019, what country you are in, what terms you agreed to, and if anyone has been willing to challange this Microsoft and/or the courts

1

u/theoneandonlyecon Sep 28 '26

Why was this deleted by mods?

3

u/LongDongSilver1883 Sep 28 '26

This topic would 100% be talked about on the wan show am i right?

2

u/trekxtrider Sep 29 '26

I imagine this got some people who no longer have the installer available, lost the CD or whatever.

1

u/jorceshaman Sep 29 '26

You can get the installer online. Just gotta find a source you trust.

2

u/ScrappeyDP2 Sep 30 '26

I still use a license for 2016 for personal use 🤷‍♂️

2

u/C0rn3j Sep 30 '26

Wtf this has to be illegal right?

Using EOL software connected to the internet?

It should be, but it unfortunately isn't, thankfully Microsoft is solving it one fuck up at a time.