Windows Forum

Ask something
Discussion Locked

Cannot use MS Office anymore

0 helpful
7 replies

by bmackenna 1 view

Closed to new repliesThis discussion is closed. It stays readable, but it takes no new replies.
A couple months ago, I went to open a Word document and came up with a small window with the heading "WINDOWS INSTALLER" and inside the window it said "Preparing to install...". I had used Word just the day before with no problems and now there wasthis problem the very next day. I reviewed everything I had done the previous day and there were no changes made, no software installations done and no settings altered. When I cancel out of this window, another message pops up saying there is a problem with the "registration" of the Windows Installer. This is a Win2k machine. Can I re-install the Windows installer? How do I do this? I keep Symantec Anti-virus up to date and I have had no viruses.

7 replies

by dmiles

Windows Installer is used to setup Applications,which may have detected a corrupt file which it will automatically try to restore,if it fails you will need to use the Office 2000 CD to restore the Windows Installer
Insert in CD-ROM and setup will install it over.

by csmith

Just because you run one AntiVirus software package does not mean you have no viruses.
We use three different ones to really clean a system.
But this is not likely to be a virus.
This sounds like a known software bug.
Have you installed the update to the Windows Installer?
It is available on the Microsoft website for free.
Regards, Chris

by bmackenna

I thought of that but when I checked my update history I realized that it was just after I installed updates that the problem started.

by laurise

Sounds like the same problem I had. I had to uninstall Office. There will be a few leftover files-specifically the Word file. Try renaming the old file and reinstalling Office. As long as the old file remains named the same as the new file, reinstallation will fail. Reinstallation will not overwrite the existing file. Also, after Office is reloaded, be sure to go to Windows update and download the SR-1a updates.

This discussion is closed to new replies.