Office XP Pro Update Fails

[Ann]

Hi..
I am having a problem with Office XP Pro Update site.
When checkinfg for Office Updates, the following message
occurs:

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 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.

I have been having a problem with this for 6-7 months...
Please help!!!!!
Thanks,
Ann

 

[Guest]

Try using Windows Installer Cleanup, MSICUU.EXE. It will
clean the registry of all entries for Office XP Pro (or
any other program you can select from a list). The
registry may be corrupt or blocking the update. You will
then have to reinstall Office XP Pro and SP1 and SP2.
MSICUU.EXE was released for Office 2000 but seems to work
for Office XP(2002). It worked for me and the update now
goes beyond the 40% and installs office updates. I hope
it works for you!
Hal

 

[Joycie]

THE "FIX"

I just got off the phone with Microsoft to fix these same
problems
described above.

They had me first delete all keys called "patches".
Regedit procedure
was to make a backup copy of the registry then use
Find "Keys" (Values
and Data deselected), "Match whole string only"
for "Patches". I
deleted each instance (I think there were three).

I then was able to go into the Office Update site and it
would
recognize the need for 5 patches. It downloaded them and
installed but
the installation failed. The MS tech said "that was
normal because I
already had those patches installed." I reran Office
Update and it
said I still needed those five patches.

The MS tech said just ignore those five patches and I
would have to
live with it.

I then went into Add/Remove and was able now to remove MS
Office
completely.

I reinstalled from the CD successfully and was able to
load SP1, SP2
and then the five troublesome patches successfully.

THANK BILL BARRETT FOR THE FIX

 

[Ann]

Hi Hal,
You mentioned reinstalling Office XP Pro , SP1 and SP2
after using the Clean up Utility...Did you first remove
Office XP Pro before reinstalling it again
What about a repair-reinstall??
{I am hanging first at 40%...then to 57%then the error
message appears.}
Dreading the whole proceedure...
Thanks,
Ann

 

[Hal]

No need to remove Office XP first. Just do a FULL
install in the same directory follwed by SP-1 and SP-2.
(You can order a free CD containing SP-1 and SP-2). The
Windows Installer Cleanup removes registry entiries that
block the update process. Doing a full install in the
same directory will preserve your settings and replace
the registry entries with the correct ones. Please
report back to the group the outcome.
Thanks, Hal

 

[ANn]

Hal,
Did not work..
Tried both.. Now my problem is not being able to install
SP1 & SP2..
Error #1642:Microsoft Office HotFix installer has
encountered a problem Error #1642
Any ideas..Uhhhhhhh!!!!!!!!!

Ann

 

[Hal]

The following is the meaning of error #1642:

"ERROR_PATCH_TARGET_NOT_FOUND 1642
The installer cannot install the upgrade patch because
the program being upgraded may be missing, or the upgrade
patch updates a different version of the program. Verify
that the program to be upgraded exists on your computer
and that you have the correct upgrade patch.
This error code is not available on Windows Installer
version 1.0."

Please verify that you followed my suggestion in the
following order.
#1 Download MSICUU.EXE (for WinXP, Windows 2000, or NT
(use MSICU.EXE for 95, 98 or ME)) from:
"http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-
us;238413"

#2 Execute MSICUU.EXE after download.

#3 Locate "Windows Install Clean Up" on your start menu
and select. Under "Installed Products"
highlite "Microsoft Office XP Professional (All Users)"
(Highlite "Microsoft Publisher 2002 (All Users)" if
included with your Office) Select "Remove" to activate
the removal. The programs are NOT removed, only the
Registry entries associated with the programs are removed.

#4 Install Office XP from the original CD's for Office.
Make sure to install into the same directory that Office
now occupies. New entries will be made to the Registry
that should clear up old entry problems.

If asked to reboot during any of the steps do so before
the next steps.

Every thing should be back to normal. You can now
install Office SP-1 and Office SP-2. The Office update
site should now also work.

If the above does not work contact me by E-mail and we
can communicate on the problem via the internet.
Regards,
Hal

 

[Jeff]

As I understand it, this fix means completely
uninstalling and then reinstalling the Office XP suite
again.

I'm assuming that the data is still there without the
need to restore from backup. Is that correct or did you
need to do a data restore also?

I am having similar problems as described here, plus I
can no longer synch between Outlook and my Palm Pilot or
update my Quicken software and wonder if these are all
connected to an Office problem.

Thanks,
Jeff

 

[brian]

I have the identical problem. Did you get an answer? The
FAQ on this doesn;t give any direction on how to fix it.

 

[Ann]

Hi Hal,

WOW!!! Finally worked..
Had to remove all of Office XP Pro :
1. Office XP Pro
2. Office XP Media
3. Front Page
4. Publisher

Then rebooted and installed
1. Office XP Pro
2. SP 1 { Finally installed, after holding my breath!}
3. SP 2

Will have to install Media, Front Page , and Publisher at a later date.....
Believe it or not, the Office updating page is "DOWN"....

Thanks for all your prompt emails in helping me fix this problem... You
are very thoughtful ...Hopefully when the office updating site is up and
working , it will allow me to do a complete update without hanging..

Thanks Again!!!!
Ann

 

[Ann]

Hi...
Office update did not work... Still hanging... at 57%...
Back to square 1...

Ann