Office 2004 won't install!

[JohnGerardCollins]

I've just replaced my old iBook with a MacBook 1.83 and used the
Migration assistant to copy over my settings etc from the old
computer.

I ran into problems with both the Test Drive and transfered copies of
Office 2004 both being there so have deleted both.

Now when I try to install I can't get the assistant to start at all.
When I drag the folder onto my HD, I see the apps, but they won't
start.

If I had any hair, I'd be tearing it out now - I don't have a clue
what to next.

Any advice would be very welcome.

John

 

[Diane Ross]

I've just replaced my old iBook with a MacBook 1.83 and used the
Migration assistant to copy over my settings etc from the old
computer.

I ran into problems with both the Test Drive and transfered copies of
Office 2004 both being there so have deleted both.

Now when I try to install I can't get the assistant to start at all.
When I drag the folder onto my HD, I see the apps, but they won't
start.

If I had any hair, I'd be tearing it out now - I don't have a clue
what to next.

Any advice would be very welcome.

You've been bitten by the Test Drive removal nightmare. You can try running
"Remove Office" to remove all Office files, but some users have had to
resort to manually removing the files.

After you run "Remove Office" found in Additional Tools folder in Office,
install from your CD then update!

More on removing test drive:
<http://www.entourage.mvps.org/install/demo.html>

Be sure to look at this faq:

<http://www.entourage.mvps.org/install/demo.html#demo2>
--
Diane Ross, Microsoft Mac MVP
Entourage Help Page
<http://www.entourage.mvps.org/>
One of the top five MS Entourage resources listed on the Entourage Blog.
<http://blogs.msdn.com/entourage/>

 

[JohnGerardCollins]

Good morning!

I've read the faq and followed the steps above. I think I've managed
to totally remove office, but the setup assistant just won't start.
The CD mounts fine but when I try to run the assistant I get the
animation of he icon from OS X, then the beach ball (as if it's really
thinking about running) and then... nothing.

Any further ideas?

J

 

[Diane Ross]

Do and drag and drop from the CD. When you launch one of the Office
applications it should start the First Run. However, let's check one more
thing. Open your Preferences folder in your User's Library. Look for a
folder named "Microsoft". If it's still there, delete it.

Let me know how it works.

 

[JohnGerardCollins]

No joy I'm afraid.

The prefs were there and I trashed them and restarted.

Then the same problems as before. I did a drag & drop install, which
put the files onto my HD, but nothing would start!

J

 

[JohnGerardCollins]

Hi there,

still no joy. Was I wrong to try and run the programme after step
three without a restart?

I got a 'first run' message, which just vanished. Since then nothing,
despite a restart.

Sorry to be such a pain, but this is doing my head in!

J

 

[JohnGerardCollins]

Have just run through the procedure again - removed and did ech stage
one at a time - still the same result.

Is it significant that the remove programme says it sees two installs
- office X and 2004, despite the faxt I have vever installed X?

J

 

[JohnGerardCollins]

I've never had X... ever! I'm installing from the student and teacher
full version 2004 CD.

J

 

[CyberTaz]

Are you installing Office from a 2004 *upgrade* disk or Full Version? Take a
look at the disk to be sure & post back.

If you had X on the old system, then upgraded to 2004 it _might_ explain why
you're having problems of this nature. Please confirm one or the other.

 

[CyberTaz]

Well, John, I'm afraid it appears that you are one of the unfortunate few
who find themselves in the Twilight Zone

This is something that seems to occur for *some* users on *some* Intels
*sometimes*. I'm afraid that there seems to be no reliable documentation on
what is the actual cause, therefore there is no single proven cure. Some
seem to blame Migration Assistant, some blame Rosetta, some blame Office,
some blame the Intel chip, some blame the Test Drive, ad infinitum et
nauseum. Fortunately it isn't insurmountable, it's simply a matter of to
what extent one must go to resolve the issue.

One option is to create a new User Account & a fresh install of Office
there. If it works it suggests a problem with the current user account, if
not it suggests an OS problem.

Before anything more radical, though, start up from your OS X install disk &
run Disk Utility - Repair Disk (*not* Repair Disk Permissions) from the
Utilities menu. If any errors are found/fixed run it repeatedly until it
reports a clean bill of health. If you have Disk Warrior, TechTool Pro or
Drive Genius you may want to run it instead. After restarting, run Repair
Disk Permissions & see if that resolves the problem.

If repairs *were* made by the utility but the above still brings no joy do
the OS/Office update thing again. Should that still not cause you to smile
you might try running Remove Office from the User/Applications/MS Office
2004/Additional Tools, then re-install & update Office - make sure to update
*before* trying to launch any Office apps. (BTW - I think the Remover
provides the options to remove X & 2004 as a matter of default. I get the
same choices here & have never used X on this system. To be on the safe side
I'd still check both boxes.) I'm not sure this will resolve the problem, but
it's worth a try if you are willing to take the time.

The next approach would be to do an Archive & install of OS X...

Another user reported resorting to reformatting his HD and completely
reinstalling OS X & Office before the sun began to shine... I hope you don't
have to go to that extreme!

Regards |:>)
Bob Jones
[MVP] Office:Mac

 

[JohnGerardCollins]

So it works!

Thanks for the elp. My solution was an archive & install, followed by
the 10.4 updater, then install from the CD followed by the 10.3 and
10.4 updates as detailed above. I restarted between every step, and
now have a working intallation.

Thanks for the encouragement and support - I'll call by if it breaks
again!

Regards,

J

 

[CyberTaz]

I'll call by if it breaks again!

Don't you dare - we're *done* with you!

Seriously - glad you were able to get it sorted & hope that it continues to
be smiles... And don't hesitate to post back anytime!


Regards |:>)
Bob Jones
[MVP] Office:Mac