Office X 'clean' reinstall: delete all old files?

[Steak Boy]

I'm about to try installing the latest bug-fix collection, sorry.
"security update" for Office X, 10.1.6. I'm hoping it might reduce the
frequency of Word's charming crashes. Who knows, I might get lucky and
it'll even fix the completely messed up 'contact' feature in Word that
is grayed out most of the time, but when it decides to work, will only
list the 'A's' from my address book. Just useless.

Anyway, back to the plot: since my Office X is so bent out of shape, I
figure I'll do a 'clean install' from the original disk first, then run
the updater. So i want to unistall **completely** my existing
installation of Office X.

Problem: as we know, in Mac OS X, you're supposed to be able to
unistall apps just by trashing the app folder from your Apps folder.
But Microsoft being Microsoft, when you install Office X, it sprays
files and folders all over your hard disk, including in places where
you least expect. Like the fage-hugger critter in 'Alien'.

So does anyone know if there's a list somewhere (I mean posted on the
Net) of where Office X puts allthe files it installs, like an installer
log? Needless to say, if Office X created such a thing at
installation, it didn't tell me what it was called or where to find it.


Thanks All, --Angus

 

[Daiya Mitchell]

Problem: as we know, in Mac OS X, you're supposed to be able to

unistall apps just by trashing the app folder from your Apps folder.
But Microsoft being Microsoft, when you install Office X, it sprays
files and folders all over your hard disk, including in places where
you least expect. Like the fage-hugger critter in 'Alien'.

So does anyone know if there's a list somewhere (I mean posted on the
Net) of where Office X puts allthe files it installs, like an installer
log? Needless to say, if Office X created such a thing at
installation, it didn't tell me what it was called or where to find it.

There is an MS KB article that I think lists everything--but it is easier
and a better idea to look in the Value Pack on your installation CD and run
the Office Remover. Repair permissions before and after the re-install.
Look here for other suggested tips, under the Remove and Reinstall link,
which will also lead you to a link in case you might want to backup some
customizations.

http://word.mvps.org/MacWordNew/TroubleshootingIndex.htm
(hit refresh a few times in Safari, or use a different browser)

 

[JE McGimpsey]

Needless to say, if Office X created such a thing at installation, it
didn't tell me what it was called or where to find it.

Steak Boy -

I thought that there was an installer log file (if you went through the
installer) however, I've long since trashed it, if so.

In any case, instead of doing it manually, you should run the Remove
Office application, found on your install disk in the Value Pak folder.

as we know, in Mac OS X, you're supposed to be able to unistall apps
just by trashing the app folder from your Apps folder.

I don't know any apps which remove files from the ~:Library folder. Aqua
HIG (Human Interface Guidelines) certainly don't require that
applications do so:

Install files only in the locations recommended in Where to Put
Files. If users want to delete your application for some reason, most
users will simply drag its icon to the Trash; avoid littering the users
hard disk with remnant files. If your product uses an installer, it
should include an uninstall option that lets the user delete all
associated files

Note that Office X meets that requirement, though not in anything like a
transparent way (that's mostly fixed in Office 2004). The "Where to Put
Files" page recommends apps put files in one or more of:

Library, Desktop, Public, Sites, Documents, Movies, Music, & Pictures

Office X puts files in the Library and Documents folders.

If you want to get rid of your User Identity, including your Entourage
accounts, you'll need to trash the

~ocuments:Microsoft User Data

folder as well.

So does anyone know if there's a list somewhere (I mean posted on the
Net) of where Office X puts allthe files it installs

Sure - check out the MSKB:

MacOFFX: Files That Are Installed with a Complete Installation of Office
v. X for Mac (Part 1)
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;311993

MacOFFX: Files That Are Installed with a Complete Installation of Office
v. X for Mac (Part 2)
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;312129

 

[Steak Boy]

Hi Daiya --

So there **is** a remover -- thank you! I don't know whether i owe MS
an apology, or another brickbat for putting a standard feature in a
"value pack" as if it is some extra bonus feature for which we should
all be extra grateful (and presumably be extra prepred to pay the price
of the software).

Enough of my moaning -- you solved my problem, thank you so much!

- SteakBoy

 

[Steak Boy]

JE--

What an exhaustive reply -- thanks so much!!

I will use the Remove Office app, but verify using the MSKB posts that
you cite.

And i have checked the installer log (yes, I admit it exists, oops) but
it only lists the files inside the 'Microsoft Office' folder (and
subfolders) in the Applications folder. What it critically doesn't
list is the .plist files and stuff that office rams into your System
folder, etc. I guess its these that lead to the infuriating situation
where you buy the upgrade in the hope that it will clean up the mess
you've made of your existing setup, only to find that you've brought it
with you.

So i will trash the User Data and everything, repair preferences
diligently before and after, and hopefully end up with a clean slate.
Thank you so much for your help,

-SteakBoy

 

[Daiya Mitchell]

You do NOT *need* to trash the MS User Data file. There is nothing in there
except files created by you (maybe), or Entourage information. But unless
you deliberately moved them there, Office X does not keep any system files
there. Usually that folder holds stuff you would want to back up.

And yes, they get a brickbat for hiding the Remove Office in the Value Pack
on the CD--improved in Office 2004.

Daiya

 

[JE McGimpsey]

What it critically doesn't list is the .plist files and stuff that
office rams into your System folder, etc.

True, since those files are created at first run rather than
installation. OTOH, nearly every application I've ever run puts
preference files in the Preferences folder, or, since OS X, sometimes
the ~:Library:Application Support folder. Since all the preferences
files are put into the Microsoft subfolder (except the .plist files that
contain little more than windowing information), they're relatively easy
to find.

I guess its these that lead to the infuriating situation where you
buy the upgrade in the hope that it will clean up the mess you've
made of your existing setup, only to find that you've brought it with
you.

That's actually unlikely to happen since version X and version 2004 use
different preference files (you can run both versions simultaneously).

 

[Steak Boy]

JE -- That's useful info. Thank you again. Much appreciated. I'm
beginning to feel more comfortable with this now, thanks to you and
Daiya. --SteakBoy