Word won't open document/ keeps wanting install disk

[Joe]

Recently, when I click on a document, including ones already created
by this application, a pop-up comes up and shows it is looking to
install something. Occasionally it is looking for a specific file, and
I dutifully load the install disc into the drive. I also copied the
entire disc into a folder, to try to tell it to go there (hopefully
for future events).
But then it won't open the file at all. The only way I can access that
file is if I open Word, then choose the file. It still tries to
install something, but it opens the file after many quick install
tries.
I have tried to reinstall Word over the top of the old application. No
luck there.
When I try that, I get this error 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."

Even when I just try to open Word to a blank document, it still tries
to install something, and each time it tries to do that, it accesses
the a drive (fruitlessly). It will eventually open Word, but it now
never skips the many attempts to install something.

The version I am running is 2002. I always install whatever updates
there are. No viruses. Legal copy.


Okay. So what gives? Is there a way to fix this? Can you tell Word
where to search to the file when it doesn't ask? Some default
location?

 

[Terry Farrell]

See http://word.mvps.org/FAQs/AppErrors/ProbsOpeningWord.htm

 

[Joe]

As far as I can tell, I followed all the suggestions listed. As a
matter of fact, under Microsoft Office, in the Startup folder, I never
saw ANY files at all. Is that normal?
But I did do a search for Normal.dot, and renamed them all Normal.old.
That, of course, did not help.
I also looked, and I have no add-ins at all.
I did a search of all the folders with Microsoft office for all ".dot"
files and renamed then ".old". That did not help either.

If I uninstall Office, and reinstall it, would that help?

 

[Joe]

I just tried to remove Microsoft office from the computer using the
Add or Remove Programs option from the control panel. I can't do it.
It pops up with this error (see the attached picture)

 

[Joe]

Okay. I finally found this article at Microsoft.
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/932857

Following this, then reinstalling Office, worked perfectly.

 

[Suzanne S. Barnhill]

It is not necessary to send screen shots (which most of the readers here
won't see, anyway, as the Web interface doesn't permit attachments); quoting
the exact error message is sufficient. You might want to see the KB article
"You receive the 'This patch package could not be opened' error message in
an Office program" at
http://support.microsoft.com/?kbid=295823.

 

[cp]

I too am having this problem. I contacted microsoft and unless I pay they
won't fix it. I just bought MS Word 2007 yesterday. Go figure. My exel is
working, but when I try to use Word, a windows installer comes up and
everything locks up. I have tried to reinstall but to no avail.
CP