Unable to install Office 2003 from CD on new Vista machine

[Carajillo]

I bought a new machine with Vista. I insert my Office 2003 CD and begin
setup. I tried it a couple of times and had a couple of different errors.
The primary error seems to be that it can't find a particular XXXX.cab file.
The last time I tried to run the install it seems that the DVD drive just
stopped running with the setup screen showing the message "waiting for
cabinets to be cached to local installation source" File M4561414.cab

I did cancel the first attempt at installation. I tried to delete two
registry keys following a MS document that suggested that an interrupted
installation might require the removal of a couple of registry keys with a do
over. Unfortunately the regedit did not look like the guidance in the MS
document.

Any ideas?

 

[Peter Foldes]

Did you remove and uninstall all of the Trial version of Office that was on your
computer when you purchased it along with the Activation Wizard before trying to
install your Office 2003 version?

 

[Carajillo]

When I made the post a bit earlier, my Office 2003 CD was churning away
trying to install for the third time. After a while the CD stopped churning
but the installation wizard showed that installation was still underway. It
was showing what I mentioned in the first e-mail. I hit "Cancel" but the
wizard was unresponsive. I went to task manager and ended the wizard. Then
I tired to continue work by opening a spreadsheet from my old system that I
thought for sure was going to open in Works. Instead it opened in excel!!!!
I restarted the computer and looked in the start menu and found that Office
had alas installed!!! I never received any indication that installation
completed on that third try, but it appears that it did.

The other thing of note, is that this machine does not apper to have come
with a trial version of Office 2007. If it did I haven't been prompted for
it. It comes with a trial version of Norton.

I do have another question. I transferred my data from an external hard
drive to the new machine with usb connection. My new system acknowledged the
external HD and all was well. Then I pulled out the USB connection and
received the infamous blue screen of death. I thought plug and play was
the mode of all usb connections. Any thought as to why unplugging an
external device would give me an immediate blue screen?

I appreciate your time Peter. tc.

 

[Peter Foldes]

You need to have the external hard drive shut off before pulling it out while
running

 

[DL]

If during your installation of Office you weren't prompted for an office key
all is not right with the installation.
Start Word does it show Word 2007 or Word 2003?

Before you started installing your software did you update Vista with
critical updates only or did you also install drivers updates?
Getting a BSOD on disconnecting a usb does not boad well for your Vista
installation

 

[Carajillo]

I may have had that HD turned on when I pulled the cable. I wonder if using
the firewire capability may have an advantage over the usb connection.

 

[Carajillo]

When i put in my office 2003 cds i did get prompted and provided a product
key. I didn't see a trial version of offfice 07 nor do i see any
installation of the same.

I haven't updated vista. I figured as a new machine it probably not
necessary. I'll check anyway for any vista updates. But that raises another
question. since i installed (finally) Office 2003 from the original program
CD, I probably need to remember to get any updates for that office suite.

I'm glad I plugged into this community. Thanks guys!

 

[DL]

A new PC may have a version of Vista that is several months old
MSupdate provides updates for all MS products in your PC