How do I activate my Microsoft Office 2003 when all the wizard tries to do is re-install each time?

I have a trial version of Office 2003 that expired last year, now I have a code and I want to install it but it won't give me a place to put down the product code. I will go to the help menu, then to activate product, then I get a wizard that tells me to press the convert button, I do this and it goes right into the Maintenance mode options. I have tried the add/remove features, and the repair reinstall but haven't done the uninstall because I don't want to lose the software. Does anyone know what I am doing wrong? Can someone please tell me how to get to the product code where I can enter the numbers and letters to get this thing activated? Please....the fate of the western world depends on this!! :)

How do I activate my Microsoft Office 2003 when all the wizard tries to do is re-install each time?free adware remover

I also have Office 2003, any microsoft programs now have to be "activated" online to protect from people giving out their serials. You can only have the software activated on 3 or 4 computers now. The only way to get the serial numbers in there is to reinstall it. During the install it will prompt you to put in the key, after it's installed you will then have to click the "activate now" button. Its a pain, but they're trying to limit the amount of cracked software. Hope this helps.