none of my files will open

P

Pat

When I click on any file I get a message in a box that states Preparing to
install?
I have been using the software for three years until today. What has
happened. Do I need to reinstall?
 
T

Tim

Please provide more information. I know this is an Office NG but you need to
be more specific than just "the software". What kind of file are you
clicking on? What is "the software"? What version is it? Have you recently
unistalled anything? Have you just installed a trial version of anything?
What happens after you get the "preparing to install" message? Any
indication on what it is trying to install?

Tim
 
P

Pat

Sorry, Any 2003 MS Office file, Excell, Word, PPS, .....

I can open them from another computer on our home network.

It is like the computer does not recognize me as far as MS Office is
concerned.

I can open Outlook Express and any other files associated with any thing
other than Office.
Pat
 
T

Tim

OK...let's start with the easiest...do you have Office (Word, Excel,
PowerPoint) installed on the PC in question? If so, what happens if you
click on, for example, just the Word icon (and not on a Word document file)?
Does Word open?

Tim
 
P

Pat

Office has been installed on this PC for three or four years. I used it
yesterday. I am the only user on this machine. The same thing happens
weather I try the short cut for one of the office programs or try to open a
file.

First I get a box the states Preparing to install,
Second I get this "Original Installation Source Required"
Third I get "Microsoft word, excel ect has not be installed for current
User. Please run set up to install application.

I can not find (yet) the original disk I used when the program first came
out. Am I out of luck or is there a fix for this problem?
Pat
 
T

Tim

That's too bad you don't have your Office CDs as I think that could be the
quickest fix for you. But if you can borrow someone else's CDs, all you need
is your product key and you can re-install. If you don't know your product
key there are a couple of free programs that will tell you. One is Belarc
Advisor (get it from www.belarc.com) and the other is Magical Jelly Bean's
Keyfinder (get it from www.magicaljellybean.com).

But if you can't re-install, here are some other thoughts:

Use System Restore back to the date/time right before your problem started.

Edit the registry: Start - Run - type "regedit" and expand key name:
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Office\ - right click and select
"Permissions". Give full control permissions to everyone. Click on Advanced
and check "Replace permission entries on all child objects". Click on OK
twice to close/save. Then restart the PC.

If you are running XP Home Edition, start the PC in safe mode and logon with
an account that has Admin rights (ignore if you are running Pro). Go to
C:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Application Data\Microsoft\Office\Data\.
Right-click on "opa11.dat", choose "Properties". Click on the "Security"
tab. Click "Advanced". Click on the "Permissions" tab. Click to select
"Everyone" in the Permission entries list. Click on Edit. Click in the
"Full Control" check box. Click OK three times to save and exit. If that
doesn't work, you can try deleting the "opa11.dat" and try running Office
again.

Good luck

Tim
 
P

Pat

My office CD's showed up and when I put it in the drive it asked me to
register the software and now everything works. I don't know what happened,
but I sure appreciate you time.
Thank you
 
T

Tim

Great...glad to hear it's working for you.

Tim

Pat said:
My office CD's showed up and when I put it in the drive it asked me to
register the software and now everything works. I don't know what
happened,
but I sure appreciate you time.
Thank you
Click to expand...
 
Top