Yes,
Microsoft products can be annoying!!!!
The problem is worst with using a version of Windows that recognises
multiple users accounts (NT, 2000, XP), however, it does seem to show up in
other versions of Windows.
I always install with "All Options", and it doesn't help.
Here are 2 things that I discovered:
1) If you have burnt your own MS Office CD, or are installing from a
share (corporate version), then you MUST put the files
SETUP.EXE and PROPLUS.MSI (and other setup files) in the root
directory of the CD or share. You will have many
headaches if you put them down a few levels. I believe that PROPLUS
may be for XP Pro, other names used for other
versions.
2) If you can't recover the current install (can't get it to recognise
the install disk), then you may need to reinstall.
Note, that the install location should be at the root level in a
share or disk as above.
3) If you are doing an initial configuration on a computer, then install
XP using a local administrator account, and configure
everything else. Start all Office Apps once (not sure if you need
to start Outlook) and make sure that it is working.
Copy your configuration to the "Default User" directory.
Windows NT:
C:\winnt\profiles\default user
Windows 2000, XP:
C:\documents and settings\default user
The default setting for the "default user" may be for it to be hidden, but
it is there.
Now, how to copy a profile.
On Windows 2000, XP, you must be logged in as an administrator. However,
you must be logged in under a different name than the account you wish to
copy. You may need to reboot to be able to copy profiles too.
Right click on "My Computer", and go to "Properties"
Under the "Advanced" tab, you will see "User Profiles". Just choose the
copy function and browse to the location.
I have found that Outlook likes to be run from a "Local Administrator"
account, and will give errors if run with the default "user" permissions.
One other note:
If you are setting up the default Office Configuration,
Go to "Tools" - "Customize" - "Options", and choose "Always Show Full
Menus". It just makes your life easier.
You can also turn on W2K menus and get rid of "Personalized Menus" by right
clicking on the taskbar and setting the options that you would like.
----- CK -----
