For want of a nail

[Francis Ong]

I think this problem applies to me:

"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."

The problem occurred when I treif to reinstall Outlook
2000 and had to use System Restore, which could have wiped
out my installation files. (I tried but still have no
idea how one navigates the Microsoft Online Support pages.)

Can anyone help? Thanks.

 

[Susan Ramlet]

HI, Francis,

Try this article:

302751 - OFF2000: How to Uninstall Office 2000 Service Release SR-1/SR-1a
Update:
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;302751&Product=ofw

Then try to reinstall Office 2000 and the updates.

 

[Francis Ong]

Thank you for the suggestion Susan. Unfortunately,
Add/Remove Program doesn't seem to be able to do anything
with it - "patch package could not be opened". It will
work fine with 'Office 2000 SR-1 Disc 2' but not 'Office
2000 Professional SR-1 (disc 1)' even though it recognizes
the latter's presence on the system. The problem arose
when I tried to reinstall Outlook 2000 (on disc 1) and, as
a consequence of some problem, I then used system restore
to try to get back to the original settings. The MS
knowledge database says somthing about system restore not
recording installation details (or something to that
effect).

I'm not even sure that my system will be able to upgrade
to Office 2003 given that it can't get rid of Office 2000
(disc 1).

Regards

Francis

 

[Susan Ramlet]

Oh, too bad.

Well, if the Windows Installer Cleanup Utility doesn't help you by removing
all installation data from the Windows registry, allowing you to re-install
everything, I think I'd probably try re-installing the system...