where can I find PUBRET.MSI? Service pack 3 won't download.

[frustrated]

I have Microsoft Publisher 2002. I have looked everywhere trying to find
this file so I can download Service Pack 3. I keep getting an error message
saying it can't find PUBRET.MSI that should have downloaded with my
installation file. It's not on my system anywhere, not on CD, evidently also
not on internet. How do I find this file to fix my problem?

 

[Susan Ramlet]

Hi, frustrated,

Did you ever have a previous version of Publisher installed? When you look
in the Windows Control Panel's Add/Remove Programs applet, are there more
than one version of Publisher listed? If so, it may be looking for a CD
from a different version.

 

[frustrated]

Hi, frustrated,

Did you ever have a previous version of Publisher installed? When you look
in the Windows Control Panel's Add/Remove Programs applet, are there more
than one version of Publisher listed? If so, it may be looking for a CD
from a different version.

--
Susan Ramlet
MVP - Office

Please reply to the newsgroups where others may benefit.


Ms. Ramlet,

Thanks for replying to my question. I checked in control panel, add/remove
programs as you suggested and only Publisher 2002 is installed on my system.

Do you or anyone else know how I solve this problem? I keep getting
prompted from my auto/update to download the service pack 3 and can never get
past where this problem pops up.
Thanks for your help.
Cheryl

 

[Susan Ramlet]

Hi, Cheryl,

I'm guessing your system came pre-installed and they used a different
version of Publisher than the CD you were provided. PUBRET.MSI is a Windows
Installer file for Publisher Retail or OEM release.

The best way to resolve the problem may be to uninstall the current
Publisher installation, re-install from your CD (ensuring you have a valid
CD key), and then patch your system.

 

[frustrated]

Susan,
I don't have a CD. The person that built my system kept all the CD's. He
said I got a discount on the price that way. For that reason among others I
no longer deal with this guy. The last time I took my computer in for
repairs he had to do a complete office reinstall because of a trojan. He
installed service pack 2 again from his business as well. I went to
Microsoft.com and tried to download without CD option but it didn't work. I
keep getting the same error message. I also don't understand why I am just
now getting the update when it appears it was released much earlier in the
year. I have auto/updater.
Do you know if I can just erase Publisher since I'm not using it much and
get the update that way? Is it necessary to have Publisher?
Thanks

 

[Susan Ramlet]

If you don't need it, then for sure uninstall it using Windows Control
Panel.

I'd be very concerned about whether or not you have valid licenses...not
owning the CDs is not a good thing. OEMs that preinstall software are
supposed to provide you CDs or support in updating.

 

[Henrik Danielsson]

I'm thinking about uninstalling Publisher too.

I have the same problem with Pubret.msi. My computer had Office installed
from the beginning but I had to reinstall it myself. For some completely dumb
reason you can't add programs to Office, that weren't installed from the
beginning but provided on CD, if the company you rented the PC from installed
it via a network. (It's a rental PC) This meant that I had to reinstall the
COMPLETE office package from scratch just because M$ Script Editor wasn't
included.

Back to the problem, I recently installed office SP1 and SP2 (had to install
SP1 even though SP2 info stated it contained SP1 as well, same with SP3).
But when I got to SP3 it needed the file PUBRET.msi. On the Publisher CD,
there's only PUB.msi, but setup says that file is no longer valid.

So, I went online and started to look around for more info. Found nothing
useful...
One guy had the opposite problem, he had PUBRET.msi and needed PUB.msi. Hey,
atleast now I know the file exists!

So now I'm here... Previously in the thread you (Susan) said it might be
neccessary to reinstall Office to make sure you have the same version as on
the CD.
As you know by now, that doesn't work since my version WAS installed with
the CDs.

Since I do not need Publisher I might as well uninstall it. But what
guarantee do I have that the downloaded, but not installed upgrade won't keep
bugging me every time I restart my computer?

A (small) part of me wants to keep Publisher just in case I want to open a
..pub file some day, but then I want it to have the latest upgrades so all
(known) security holes have been filled.

If there is no simple solution to this problem, I have no other choice than
to download an MSPUB ISO containing PUBRET.msi, since my ORIGINAL Genuine
Hologram-cover CD which I used to install MSPUB can't be used to upgrade the
very same installation!

I can see the irony in it all though, "Buy a brand new program from
Microsoft one day, download a pirate version to fix all security holes in it
the next..."