Issues raised by install of Office 2003 Pro

[Howard Kaikow]

1. Although my system has 768MB of memory and is 400MHz, when I tried to
install Business Contact Manager (BCM), I was informed that I could not BCM
install because I had to have both 400 MHz and at least 128MB, which I do
have.

Looking at System Information, it appears that Windows thinks that I have
~398 MHz.
For that small of a difference, I should have been given the option to
install, instead installation of BCM was aborted.

2. Without asking me where I wanted the MSOCache directory, the install
located the directory on a drive that I find to be unacceptable.

First, install should ask where such a directory should be located.

Second, do I ASSuME correctly, that all I need to do is modify the
appropriate references to MSOCache in the registry and then I can manually
move the directory?

Or should I first try CUT and PASTE to see whether the registry keys are
automatically changed.

3. I was horrified to learn that Office 2003 does not include the Office
ShortCut bar.

 

[Manda Luyong]

This are the system requirements according to MS:

The following are the system requirements to run the Business Contact
Manager add-in for Outlook 2003:
A computer with a Pentium III 450 MHz or faster processor
256 MB of RAM or more
190 MB of available hard disk space

 

[Howard Kaikow]

I am aware of that, but the message issued by install specifically stated
400 MHz.

I see no reason why there should be any restriction.
If I choose to run software on a system that is too slow, that's my problem
and my choice.

MSFT says something similar about VS .NET.
I have no difficulty running VS .NET.
The only time it is very slow is when I add a reference to an Office
component.
It takes forever to load the reference, but once loaded, no problem.

--
http://www.standards.com/; See Howard Kaikow's web site.

This are the system requirements according to MS:

The following are the system requirements to run the Business Contact
Manager add-in for Outlook 2003:
A computer with a Pentium III 450 MHz or faster processor
256 MB of RAM or more
190 MB of available hard disk space

 

[Bob Buckland ?:-\)]

Hi Howard,

On #1. Hmmm, was that dialog box one that specifically
named the Outlook 2003 BCM? I'm curious as the
400MHz and 128MB RAM are the requirements for
the Office speech/alternate input features.

On #2. The MSOCache directory goes to the NTFS
drive with the most space (at least 1.5gb free)
or if there is no NTFS drive then the
FAT16 or FAT32 drive with the most space is the most
commone Office chosen location.

Yes, it would be nice if it asked you 'what drive' during
Setup, but a lot of folks seem to prefer to
want the setup program to just 'handle it' as they
may have only one drive partition, or don't want to
figure out which drive and then possibly have the
install fail .

You can use setup.exe properties to
direct MSOCache to a drive of your choice during
the install. Take a look
at the Setup.htm file on the Office 2003 CD and
http://support.microsoft.com/?kbid=826530&FR=1

If you're going to setup a dual boot configuration
in Windows to run multiple versions of Office then
specifying the MSOCache location is an item to
consider as part of setup using the steps here
http://support.microsoft.com/?kbid=828957

MSOCache appears a number of times in the registry,
some in binary keys.

On #3. Basically, the OSB needed quite a bit of work
and the Windows folks have the ownership of the desktop
features more now than when it was written.

You can create and 'tear off' a custom toolbar in
Windows 2000, XP or Server2003, or you use a 3rd party
product such as
http://jetaudio.com/products/jettoolbar/index.html
or install the Office XP MS Office Shortcut bar using
a custom install, but that can load quite a bit
to get just that feature.

=========
1. Although my system has 768MB of memory and is 400MHz, when I tried to
install Business Contact Manager (BCM), I was informed that I could not BCM
install because I had to have both 400 MHz and at least 128MB, which I do
have.

Looking at System Information, it appears that Windows thinks that I have
~398 MHz.
For that small of a difference, I should have been given the option to
install, instead installation of BCM was aborted.

2. Without asking me where I wanted the MSOCache directory, the install
located the directory on a drive that I find to be unacceptable.

First, install should ask where such a directory should be located.

Second, do I ASSuME correctly, that all I need to do is modify the
appropriate references to MSOCache in the registry and then I can manually
move the directory?

Or should I first try CUT and PASTE to see whether the registry keys are
automatically changed.

3. I was horrified to learn that Office 2003 does not include the Office
ShortCut bar. >>
--
I hope this helps you,

Bob Buckland ?
MS Office System Products MVP

*Courtesy is not expensive and can pay big dividends*

The Office 2003 System parts explained
http://microsoft.com/uk/office/preview/system.asp

MS on 'Why Office System 2003'
http://microsoft.com/mscorp/execmail/2003/10-13productivity.asp

 

[Howard Kaikow]

On #1. Hmmm, was that dialog box one that specifically
named the Outlook 2003 BCM? I'm curious as the
400MHz and 128MB RAM are the requirements for
the Office speech/alternate input features.

Yes the message specifically identified Outlook 2003 BCM.
Software can usefully issue such warning messages, but hey, if I wanna run
software slowly, why stop me, that must be my choice!!!

I ASSuME that the speech/alternate input features got installed as I
received no other messages. What's the easiest way to check that?

On #2. The MSOCache directory goes to the NTFS
drive with the most space (at least 1.5gb free)
or if there is no NTFS drive then the
FAT16 or FAT32 drive with the most space is the most
commone Office chosen location.

Not quite. I only use NTFS on the external USB drives, of which no more than
one is connected at the same time.

Windows Update does what you stated, i.e., it puts the temporary directory
on an external 80GB USB drive.
I have to remember to disconnect the USB drive when doing a Windows Update,
otherwise it runs exceedingly slowly.

I do not believe that I had disconnected the USB drive prior to the install.
In any case, an external drive would be a bad choioce because it would not
always be connected.

Yes, it would be nice if it asked you 'what drive' during
Setup, but a lot of folks seem to prefer to
want the setup program to just 'handle it' as they
may have only one drive partition, or don't want to
figure out which drive and then possibly have the
install fail .

Yes, but an option could be offered for "advanced" users.
TV is doing a good enough job of dumbing down, we don't need software to add
to the injury.

You can use setup.exe properties to
direct MSOCache to a drive of your choice during
the install. Take a look
at the Setup.htm file on the Office 2003 CD and
http://support.microsoft.com/?kbid=826530&FR=1

I do not see MSOCache mentioned in that article.

Would I have to uninstall, then re-install Office 2003?

If you're going to setup a dual boot configuration
in Windows to run multiple versions of Office then
specifying the MSOCache location is an item to
consider as part of setup using the steps here
http://support.microsoft.com/?kbid=828957

Dual booting is not an issue since I only want 1 version of Office available
in each OS.

MSOCache appears a number of times in the registry,
some in binary keys.

That's not a problem to change.
Changing the Registry seems like a better approach than re-installing.
Might even need to change only the Folders key for MSOCache.

On #3. Basically, the OSB needed quite a bit of work
and the Windows folks have the ownership of the desktop
features more now than when it was written.

You can create and 'tear off' a custom toolbar in
Windows 2000, XP or Server2003, or you use a 3rd party
product such as
http://jetaudio.com/products/jettoolbar/index.html
or install the Office XP MS Office Shortcut bar using
a custom install, but that can load quite a bit
to get just that feature.

Yes, but it's hard to teach an old dog new tricks. Arf! Arf!
I learned to rely on the OSB. I'm a prisoner of my own bad habits.

Actually, the absence of the OSB has had a benefit.
It has made me rethink what shortcuts I really do need to use often, those
I'll put in the Quick Launch bar.

For example, I rarely direcly use Access or Powerpoint, so I can just add
EXcel and Word to the Quick Lunch bar. Hmmm. my stomach is growling, time
for lunch.

The others, I'll put in a directory which will have a shortcut in the quick
launch bar.