Office 2003 PRO uninstall/update problem

[MarekO]

After I changed my C: drive from 4o GB to bigger I can't uninstall/update my
Office 2003 PRO software.

 

[garfield-n-odie]

Did you use a hard disk utility to clone the contents of the old drive
to the new drive? Office does not like to be copied from one hard drive
to another, because that is one method a software pirate might try in
order to bypass the Office activation process. To fix the problem:
1. Download the Windows Installer Cleanup Utility from
http://support.microsoft.com/?kbid=290301 and install it.
2. Use the utility to delete the Windows Installer entry for Office 2003.
3. Reboot.
4. Uninstall Office 2003.
5. Install Office 2003 from the original CD.

 

[MarekO]

Thanks. Iwas able to install Windows Installer Cleanup Utility and then
uninstall Office 2003. After reboot I installed again my Office 2003. All
seems to be working fine but I still can not update Office. Not even SP1.
What else can be done?

 

[garfield-n-odie]

When you say "can not update Office", what happens when you try? If you
get an error message, quote it exactly and completely.

 

[MarekO]

This is what I got:

"Office Update is unable to check for updates

The Office Update site is unable to check for updates on this computer. This
may be happening because of one of the following reasons:

You do not have administrative privileges for this computer.
There is a network problem and the detection catalog used by the Office
Update site failed to download. Go back to the Downloads home page and try
running detection again.
Windows Installer patch files (.MSP files) from previously applied Office
updates are missing from the \Windows\Installer hidden directory on your
computer. MSP files are stored on your computer after update installation
completes because they need to be referenced for future update operations. If
the files are missing you will not be able to apply Office updates. You may
also be unable to uninstall Office products as a result of the same problem.
Please contact Microsoft Product Support Services for assistance.
You installed Office updates in the past and then upgraded from Windows
Installer version 1.0 to Windows Installer version 1.1. For more information
see the KB article Windows Installer May Prompt for Install Source if
Unavailable.


Search for Office updates in the Download Catalog

Report the error to Microsoft"

Thanks, Marek

 

[garfield-n-odie]

Try working through the various resolution methods at
http://support.microsoft.com/?kbid=304498 "Update process quits
unexpectedly after you click "Check for Updates" on the Office Update
Web site".

 

[MarekO]

I tried everything from the list applicable to the Office2003. Nothing helps.
I still get the same error and my Office2003 can't be protected. I can't even
load SP. It seems Microsoft puts more effort to fight pirates then to make
sure the right owner can use the product. The process of upgrading from
smaller/slower HD to another must be popular way to improve PC performance
and shall not be hindered by MIcrosoft's approach. I think I'm getting
frustrated. Anything else to try?

Thanks, Marek

 

[MarekO]

Just another error when trying to instal SP1 manually:
"Office Hotfix Installer encountered a problem. We are sorry for the
inconvenience."

And then the reportr is sent to MIcrosoft and the installation quits.

Marek

 

[garfield-n-odie]

See
http://groups-beta.google.com/group..._doneTitle=Back+to+Search&&d#66cc098fdf1d988a
for a suggestion that has worked for some people, but not for everyone.
I have not tried this myself. You don't have Infopath 2003, do you?