Your desktop doesn't have a license for 2002 or such. You can go ahead and be upset but licenses are there to prevent pilfering of the software.

-> If you have the UPGRADE OFFICE 2002 CD (you were never clear what you had) then you would have some other product CD that was your qualifying upgrade. If you don't have such, go ahead and try to install 2002 and see if it will just work.

Be assured that no one here will help you "get around" the licensing issues. Microsoft is who you must call and work it out with.

For a working Office till you sort out CDs and licenses just use Open Office from http://www.openoffice.org It's what I use and I don't spend too much.

Bob