Patch Error Word XP

[Peaches]

Hi !

I'm getting an error message when starting Word (Office XP) Sp-2

The error message from "Detect & Repair" reads:
The patch package could not be opened. Verify that the patch package
exists and that you can open it, or contact the application vendor to
verify that this is a valid Windows Installer patch package.

I then tried to uninstall Word via control panel ( to do repair or
re-install and get same message:

This patch package could not be opened. Verify that the patch package
exists and that you can access it, or contact the application vendor
to verify that this is a valid Windows Installer patch package.

Any clues, tips or help?

TIA
Peaches

 

[garfield-n-odie]

Download and install the Windows Installer Cleanup Utility from
http://support.microsoft.com/?kbid=290301 . Use the utility to remove
the Windows Installer entry for Word 2002/Office XP. Reboot. Then
uninstall and reinstall Word 2002/Office XP, and apply all of the
service packs and updates for Office XP.

 

[Peaches]

Download and install the Windows Installer Cleanup Utility from
http://support.microsoft.com/?kbid=290301 . Use the utility to remove
the Windows Installer entry for Word 2002/Office XP. Reboot. Then
uninstall and reinstall Word 2002/Office XP, and apply all of the
service packs and updates for Office XP.

Peaches wrote:

Thank you for advise but it didn't work..
Word opened in safe mode again. Then I got this.
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.