First, you should go into your computer setup and run verify on your hard
disk. This is not destructive and will find and move any data into a good
area if such is the problem. Then run chkdsk. Perhaps that is all you need,
but if not, continue with the following.
Obtain the Windows Install Clean up utility if you are running W2K only (you
did not especify)
The Windows Install Clean up will list Office in W2K but not in XP. Is
somethig about the Installer been above version 2 I think.
There is a utility name msizap.exe from Support\Tools\Suptools.msi, which
are located in
the XP CD. It is also present on the same place for W2K. Be aware that there
is a new Support tools 4 for W2K/SP4.
You must install them (all), if you have not. There is a setup.exe
Them you have to look for the GUID of the program you want to uninstall,
with RegEdit at:
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Uninstall.
The GUID are the long numbers you will see. Click on each one, until you
find the owner in the Rt panel .
I would save a security copy of the registry. Saving the key is not enough,
and I am not sure a restore point is sufficient. Delete nothing with
RegEdit!!!!!
Then, in the Command Window (CMD) you will type:
<path>\msizap.exe T! {GUID}.
My GUID for Office XP was:
{91110409-6000-11D3-8CFE-0050048383C9}
Not sure if yours will be the same.
This is executed quite rapidly and will errase all the registry entries for
the selected program (Office XP), creating a log file in TEMP. The Windows
Install Clean up will work the same way, but you need not get the GUID. But
it will not work under XP.
Do not errase the Office directories. Just reinstall in the same location.
If you do not use the default location in Program Files/Microsoft Office (I
do not), it might not give you the choise. Such happened to me under W2K.
Let it install it and once done, uninstall and erase the new directory in
Program Files. At this point you will be able to do a full new install were
you had it before.
Before using Office Update, delete the directory for it in Program files. It
will be created new.
After than, all you need to do is reaply the SP packs and hotfixes (with
Office Update). It took me some 2:30 hours and all my configurations were
saved.
After all I search since the last month, that is not too bad.
By the way, the office update does work perfectly now.
Cheers & Good luck
