Office Updates is unable to check for updates (2)

[barrowhill]

From an earlier post, a reply from TaurArian (MVP) provided the following
info and link..........

How to troubleshoot failures updating your Office installation from the
Office Update
Web site http://support.microsoft.com/kb/304498..............

I have the same or similar problem and I have been through ALL options in
the indicated article to no avail. I still can't use the Office Update site.

Clarification......This occurs on one machine only (running 4 on home LAN)
so it's not a network or update site problem.

If I run Office Update I receive the following message(s)............

" 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 "

The PC runs XP Home and Word 2002/XP. If I run Windows Update from
IE/tools/internet options or Microsoft Update from the home page - both
checking for windows and office updates, the results of the update scan are
shown in the left hand frame "select by product "

I've just installed Word 2002/XP and this detected updates required for both
Windows XP (2) and Office 2002/XP (1). These downloaded and installed OK.

As stated earlier checking for office updates only via office update site
then I get message above.

I've also just installed Excel 2000 and Powerpoint 2000 (from Office 2000
CD). Running Microsoft Update or Windows Update now show no updates required
for Windows XP or Office 2002/XP (products) --- no mention of updates
required for Office 2000 (products) ??????????? which surely there must be.

Running scan from Office Update site give same message(s) as previously seen

Looks like I have a corrupt or missing file (.msi/.msp/???) thats preventing
Office Update scan working and the detection of Office 2000 products.

Apologies for long problem explanation. Hope it's understandable. Can
anyone help getting office updates to work properly ?????

 

[TaurArian [MVP]]

See if anything helps here:

See KB906323
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/906323

Check point -
Click Start, select Run, type: services.msc
click OK
Is the Office Source Engine service set to “Manual†in the “Startup Type�
Also, is the Windows Installer Service is set to “Manual†in the “Startup
Type�.
If not, set them to Manual and try Windows Update again.
If they set to Manual, then perhaps look at repairing/reinstalling Office
2003.

You may need to download and install the Windows Installer Cleanup Utility
to assist you in cleaning up after Office 2003 and any other redundant office
programs.
Description of the Windows Installer CleanUp Utility:
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;290301
Windows Installer Cleanup Utility
http://download.microsoft.com/download/E/9/D/E9D80355-7AB4-45B8-80E8-983A48D5E1BD/msicuu2.exe

 

[barrowhill]

TaurArian,


Your checkpoint has raised an issue..........

I've done as you have said - Start\Run\services.msc\OK and receive a
"Service" window. With the console tree showing the only item displayed is
"Services (Local)". The list of services shown in the right hand pane does
not show and entry for the "Office Source Engine" service . The "Windows
Installer" entry is set for "Manual".

The cleanup utilty has been used. I 've installed and removed Office 2000
products - Word, Excel, Powerpoint, Access a number of times and always used
the cleanup utility to remove the installer packages. Ditto 2002 (Word
only)

With an Office product free and clean system, I installed Word 2002 only.
Used Windows/Microsoft update service tand got 3 updates (2 Windows, 1
Office). Used Office update service and get error message. Installed
Office 2000 Excel and Powerpoint and used Office update and got error
message. When used Microsoft/Windows update got notified of zero updates
for windows XP ans Office 2002/XP. No mention of 2000.

Services checked and as stated at beginning.

 

[TaurArian [MVP]]

http://office.microsoft.com/en-au/officeupdate/CD010225771033.aspx
Manual download for Office 2000 - last update appears to be 14/09/2004

http://office.microsoft.com/en-au/officeupdate/CD010225741033.aspx
Manual download for Office 2002 - last update appears to be 8/02/2005

 

[barrowhill]

TaurArian,

Thanks. Links bookmarked for future ref. Taken problem up with Tech Support.

Regards

 

[TaurArian [MVP]]

Please post back your results, it might assist someone else.
Kaylene

 

[barrowhill]

TaurArian,

Whilst I have a ticket out with Technical Support, I have managed to resolve
the problem myself. Office Update fully functional now and PC updated.

Resolution............

I had installed Office products but didn't bother to access them when
installed. I went straight to update site knowing full well that updates
would be required. Having run all the recommended utilities and reinstalled
Office on a number of occasions with no resolution to the problem, decided to
run them as they were.

All OK accept for Word 2000 ! On opening this was looking for a feature on
the Word 2000 installation Disc. I don't have this, never have. All I have
is the Office 2000 CD. The feature it was looking for was DATA1.MSI. This
was on the CD but the error message said it wasn't vaild for this product
(?!?)

Despite running the Microsoft recommended Installer Cleanup utility,
deleting office and update folders and re-installing Office on numerous
occassions, this issue always arose.

In the end, I decided the installer cleanup uttility wasn't doing it job
properly (?). I set a restore point and took a backup copy of registry
before setting about trawling the registry to find and delete all entries
marked "DATA1.MSI".

Having completed this and checked no entries existed, I opened Word.
Well....shouts of Eureka!!. Word opened properly and was functioning as
expected. Turning then to the Office Update site, PC successfully scanned
and all identified updates downloaded and installed sucessfully.....pat on
the pat and went and had a cup of tea to celebrate !!

Regards

 

[TaurArian [MVP]]

Thanks barrowhill for posting your solution. Yes you deserve a pat on the back.
This may assist others with the same problem.
Kaylene