Office quits on startup

[CShea]

This is a longstanding problem. My copy of Office X quits every time
on startup. I can work around this by opening an existing document,
but that has its limitations (aside from being annoying).

I learned in this group that the problem must stem from my having
moved Office by Firewire from my old iMac to my new one, rather than
freshly installing it. I was advised to manually un-install Office and
to re-install it.

I've tried this several times and the problem persists. (When I try to
use the "uninstall" function, as an alternative, I'm told I don't have
the proper permissions to do so.) How I can get Office X fully working
again?

 

[Diane Ross]

I've tried this several times and the problem persists. (When I try to
use the "uninstall" function, as an alternative, I'm told I don't have
the proper permissions to do so.) How I can get Office X fully working
again?

Log in as admin and you can do a proper install.

 

[CShea]

How do you log in as admin?

Log in as admin and you can do a proper install.

 

[Diane Ross]

How do you log in as admin?

Select the Finder as your active application. Under help, type in "Giving an
account administrator privileges" (without the quotes).

You should also read: About administrator accounts

 

[CShea]

I evidently *do* have administrator privileges, yet I still get the
message that I don't have the right to uninstall Office.
I assume this has to do with the fact I transferred Office to this
machine from another machine, rather than doing a fresh install. So
I'm still stuck.

 

[Diane Ross]

I evidently *do* have administrator privileges, yet I still get the
message that I don't have the right to uninstall Office.
I assume this has to do with the fact I transferred Office to this
machine from another machine, rather than doing a fresh install. So
I'm still stuck.

Do a Get Info on the Office folder and see what permissions are set.

 

[CShea]

Okay, we're getting closer. When I Get Info on the Office folder
Idon't see the three "users" I see on the OSX login window. I see "me
(cshea)", "admin", and "others."
Cshea has read/write privileges, admin had read-only privileges
(though I just changed them to "read/ write"), "others" has read-only.
So how do I log on as this admin fellow (who does not, again, appear
on my OSX login window)?
--Chris

 

[Diane Ross]

Okay, we're getting closer. When I Get Info on the Office folder
Idon't see the three "users" I see on the OSX login window. I see "me
(cshea)", "admin", and "others."
Cshea has read/write privileges, admin had read-only privileges
(though I just changed them to "read/ write"), "others" has read-only.
So how do I log on as this admin fellow (who does not, again, appear
on my OSX login window)?

Simply changing the permissions so that admin has read/write should all YOU
to do a re-install. It's possible other files will need to upgraded as well.
I think you can do this with the terminal, but I'm not expert on that so
don't know what command line you would need. I did a quick search on my
notes and found the following:

1) While started from the Leopard Install DVD, a user's home directory
permissions can be reset using the "Reset Password" utility.

2) MacOSXHints Forum: You do not have sufficient privileges...
<http://tinyurl.com/dfggfv>

Let me know what you find.

 

[CShea]

Simply changing the permissions so that admin has read/write should all YOU
to do a re-install. It's possible other files will need to upgraded as well.
I think you can do this with the terminal, but I'm not expert on that so
don't know what command line you would need. I did a quick search on my
notes and found the following:

1)  While started from the Leopard Install DVD, a user's home directory
permissions can be reset using the "Reset Password" utility.

2)  MacOSXHints Forum: You do not have sufficient privileges...
<http://tinyurl.com/dfggfv>

Let me know what you find.

I changed the admin permissions to read/write, but still no luck. I
have no idea how to use the terminal -- those lines of code look
pretty intimidating.
Does MS offer help by phone, for a charge, for this kind of thing?
I've been living with a hobbled Office for a year now.

--Chris

 

[Diane Ross]

I changed the admin permissions to read/write, but still no luck. I
have no idea how to use the terminal -- those lines of code look
pretty intimidating.

The terminal is not a place to be if it's not something you are comfortable
doing. That's many Mac users.

Does MS offer help by phone, for a charge, for this kind of thing?
I've been living with a hobbled Office for a year now.

There phone service is pretty limited. I do consulting and you can probably
find consultants through your local Mac User Group. If you are interested in
my services, send me an email:

<http://www.entourage.mvps.org/support_options/email.html>

===========MSFT Support===================
Help and Support <http://tinyurl.com/56wo3o>

No-charge: 2 support request
If your Microsoft product was already installed on your computer when you
purchased it, contact your computer manufacturer to see if no-charge support
is available to you. (View Contact information) Support for preinstalled
products is available from Microsoft for a fee. Some issues may require more
Advanced support for which there is a charge.
(866) 474-4882

Cost:$49.00 plus applicable taxes per support request during business hours
after all no-charge support is used.
(Note: Advanced support is not covered under this charge.) Major credit
cards accepted.

(866) 474-4882

Hope this helps!

 

[CShea]

The terminal is not a place to be if it's not something you are comfortable
doing. That's many Mac users.


There phone service is pretty limited. I do consulting and you can probably
find consultants through your local Mac User Group. If you are interestedin
my services, send me an email:

<http://www.entourage.mvps.org/support_options/email.html>

===========MSFT Support===================
Help and Support <http://tinyurl.com/56wo3o>

No-charge: 2 support request
If your Microsoft product was already installed on your computer when you
purchased it, contact your computer manufacturer to see if no-charge support
is available to you. (View Contact information) Support for preinstalled
products is available from Microsoft for a fee. Some issues may require more
Advanced support for which there is a charge.
(866) 474-4882

Cost:$49.00 plus applicable taxes per support request during business hours
after all no-charge support is used.
(Note: Advanced support is not covered under this charge.) Major credit
cards accepted.

(866) 474-4882

Hope this helps!

Many thanks. I've also checked out one of Pogue's books, and it seems
that he covers exactly this issue -- how to fix permissions problems
via the terminal. So I will give it a try myself first!

 

[Diane Ross]

Many thanks. I've also checked out one of Pogue's books, and it seems
that he covers exactly this issue -- how to fix permissions problems
via the terminal. So I will give it a try myself first!

When I mention "Archive & Install" most users cringe, but it's not such a
bad process and it's often the quickest and easiest way to solve some
problems. The last time I had to do this, the only thing I had to reinstall
was the Microsoft keyboard software.

"Archive and Install" moves existing system files to a folder named Previous
System and then installs Mac OS X again. Be sure to select the "Preserve
User and Network Settings" option to preserve your current Users folder and
related network configuration. If you have any questions about doing the
archive & install see:

General advice on performing an Archive and Install
<http://www.thexlab.com/faqs/archiveinstall.html>

Apple KB 107120
<http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?artnum=107120>