can't update Office XP OEM without a disk?

[Robert Gehl]

I'm trying to update my Office XP ... it is OEM software, meaning the comp
came with XP preinstalled. But it's looking for the disk, which doesn't
exist. Specifically, it's looking for a "sberet" file. Any advice?
Robert Gehl
robert AT rgehl DOT com

 

[Susan Ramlet]

sberet.msi comes with Office Small Business Edition retail version.
So...can you get a disk from your original equipment manufacturer so that
you can patch your system?

You should probably contact them, because they're responsible to support the
software that they install.

If there is a full file patch available, you may want to try using that,
because it may not require you to have the original CD for installation.

 

[Peter Boxer]

I would not attempt to install this from the full patch file, since it still
might require you to have the CD -- they don't tell you that! It happened to
me, so I had to cancel the update using the full patch file, then found I
could no longer run Excel -- it kept asking for the CD to run. Took many
hours to fix that, so I wouldn't risk it if you don't have the CDs.

 

[Robert Gehl]

Last question.
If my product ID ... i.e., 54188-OEM-1792977-56249 has "OEM" in it, is it an
absolute guarantee that the software came with the computer.
I'm fighting with Compaq. They absolutely insist that they did not
preinstall this software (office xp).
Any advice helpful. Thanks

 

[ande1744]

I have the same problem and cannot resolve it. My CD is elsewhere and cannot
find the SBERET file. This all started with an Office2002/XP Service Pack 3
update being automatically put on my computer by Microsoft. They cannot or
will not tell me how to remove the failed installation which has prevented
Excel from working properly. The OEM did not put the update on my computer.
If you get an answer please let me know.