Corrupted MS Office Data Prevents Removal/Repair

[Michael Shealy]

Hi Y'all,

Any help with this problem would be appreciated greatly.
My hard disk recently took a dump (slowly w/CRC errors).
When I replaced it the files all apparently copied (no
error messages) but there were many crunching and grinding
sounds. Now, the new disk drive isn't making any noises
but won't run any of my MS Office programs and when I
attempt to remove them for the purpose of reinstalling,
that won't work, either.

As an example: clicking an MS Word document in My
Documents folder brings this message: "An error occurred
and this feature is no longer functioning properly.
Please run setup and select "Repair" to restore this
function." When I click "OK" the program comes up,
apparently functioning properly, but I'm suspicious and I
don't like these error messages.

Both, when I try to run Setup> Repair, from my MS Office
disk and when I go to the Control Panel> Add or Remove
Programs> MS Office> Remove...I immediately get this
message: "This patch package could not be opened. Verify
that the patch package exists, and that you can access it,
or contact the application ventdor to verify that this is
a valid Windows installer patch package."

How can I fix this problem?

TIA

Michael Shealy

 

[Mary Sauer]

Another poster had this problem some time ago trying to install Publisher. The
following solution was on a forum.
This is a complicated process, not for the faint of heart.

1) Regedit

2) Click on registry - export the whole registry
3) Starting at the top search for "Patches" only in the KEYS
4) rename all folder patches found to something else
5) Keep finding patches, but DO NOT rename AppPatches, you need that
6) When finished, then you can install MS Office.

This is the reply posted later by the original poster.

Excellent! - That solved the problem

I did a search on the registry and came up with 7 folders titled "Patches".
Renamed all 7 to "Patchesxxx".

Ran Publisher installation - performed as expected.

Ran office update - advised all patches previously installed were required
again - did not install.

Changed "Patchesxxx" back to "Patches"

ReRan office update - would not run through the process.

Changed "Patches" to "patchesxxx" one at a time, until I found the one that
prevented update from running - left it with the xxx.

Reran office update - only listed 3 necessary updates - ran the updates -
final pass - no needed updates.

Checked the registry - a new folder patches exists next to patchesxxx - same
data, but different registry keys.

Deleted Patchesxxx

Case Closed,

 

[joust in jest]

Michael:

I gather from your post that you used a disk-cloning tool to clone your
dying hard drive to your new hard drive.

Apparently your clone was only partially successful [those "...many
crunching and grinding sounds." was the sound of portions of you hard drive
being physically destroyed. Any files copied from those destroyed areas
will, of course, be similarly destroyed].

Fortunately for you, you got enough of the Operating System files to be able
to boot your computer.
Unfortunately for you, you did not get enough of the Office Program files to
be able to run (or repair) Microsoft Office.

Try this:

Insert your MS Office CD perform a "Repair MS Office" at the prompt
IF that is successful, reboot your computer and you should be good
to go
IF that is not successful

Got to Control Panel | Add/Remove Programs and uninstall MS Office.
IF that is successful, reboot your computer, then insert your MS
Office CD and install fresh.

IF that is not successful, post back and we will try something else.

Good luck,

steve