You can workaround this problem by running Setup. Follow these steps ...
1- Launch the Vista Control Panel
2- Click on 'Programs'
3- Under 'Programs and Features', click on 'Uninstall a program'
4- Select Microsoft Office from the list of installed applications, and then
click on the 'Change' button
5- In Office 2003 Setup, choose 'Add or Remove Features' (the UI will be
slightly different for other Office versions)
6- In Office 2003 Setup, check the 'Choose advanced customization of
applications' box, and then click on the 'Next' button
7- Locate 'Office Assistant' in the feature tree under 'Office Shared
Features'
8- Set all of the Assistand characters to 'Not Available'
9- Set the character that you would like to use to 'Run from my computer'
Sloan Crayton
Microsoft