Remove and Reinstall Office 2008 ?s

[Norm]

I'd like start over with a clean Office 2008 install.

Are there any tips, dos or don'ts, or best ways to do so?

In other words, if I run "Remove" and then go looking for any Microsoft
files/folders and remove them, is that the correct approach?

FWIW, for those who might wonder and ask....

I've saved some tracks in the snow for my Preferences and Toolbar
changes so I'm not concerned about the time required to set up those.
And my few style changes are not important.

And my reasons for doing so are:

1. Have been getting Word crashes when I select certain styles from the
Format/Style dialog window.

2. I installed Office in my sub-folder within the Applications folder
and now note that MS Office is recommended to be installed directly into
the Applications folder.

3. I never installed Entourage since I don't use it but I find I need it
for saving envelope addresses. I'd prefer to link to Address Book but
understand that is not possible.

4. And some of my styles are munged up with my testing and learning Word
2008. However, I do realize I can force a new Normal template to achieve
just that correction.

Thanks for any tips.

 

[Corentin Cras-Méneur]

On 2010-01-17 10:53:35 -0500, Norm said:

Hi Norm,

I'd like start over with a clean Office 2008 install.

Are there any tips, dos or don'ts, or best ways to do so?

Use the uninstaller.

In other words, if I run "Remove" and then go looking for any Microsoft
files/folders and remove them, is that the correct approach?

After the uninstaller is done, you are still left with your preference
files and the Microsoft User Data folder though. It doesn't touch the
user-generated data.

FWIW, for those who might wonder and ask....

I've saved some tracks in the snow for my Preferences and Toolbar
changes so I'm not concerned about the time required to set up those.
And my few style changes are not important.

Unless you saved your templates in the Microsoft Office folder itself,
you'll still have them after reinstalling.

And my reasons for doing so are:

1. Have been getting Word crashes when I select certain styles from the
Format/Style dialog window.

You might consider setting your Normal Template aside to test whether
it might be corrupted and responsible for the crashes.

2. I installed Office in my sub-folder within the Applications folder
and now note that MS Office is recommended to be installed directly into
the Applications folder.

Yeah, it's not an absolute requirement, but it makes a lot of things
easier (like updating Office for instance).

3. I never installed Entourage since I don't use it but I find I need it
for saving envelope addresses. I'd prefer to link to Address Book but
understand that is not possible.

You need Entourage for that since Office will attempt to use the
Entourage address book as a source,

4. And some of my styles are munged up with my testing and learning Word
2008. However, I do realize I can force a new Normal template to achieve
just that correction.

Yep. Have you considered it?

Corentin

 

[Norm]

Thanks for the assistance. See inline.....

After the uninstaller is done, you are still left with your preference
files and the Microsoft User Data folder though. It doesn't touch the
user-generated data.

Any pros and cons to delete both?

Unless you saved your templates in the Microsoft Office folder itself,
you'll still have them after reinstalling.

Saved them to default:
~/Library/Application Support/Microsoft/Office/User Templates/My
Templates

snip

You need Entourage for that since Office will attempt to use the
Entourage address book as a source,

And I gather there is no way to "guide" it to Address Book. Thanks.

Yep. Have you considered it?

Have but haven't done so because was going to do a complete reinstall.

I think I will given yours and John's comments on results. At least I'll
have the practice for "next time."

Thank you for the help.

 

[Corentin Cras-Méneur]

On 2010-01-17 17:53:40 -0500, Norm said:
Hi Norm

Any pros and cons to delete both?

Well, for the preferences, it all depends as to whether you are afraid
to lose your customizations or not.
For the Microsoft User Data folder, it contains your Entourage identity
with all your e-mails, e-mail account settings, etc.

Saved them to default:
~/Library/Application Support/Microsoft/Office/User Templates/My
Templates

They shouldn't be deleted then.
It's up to you to do it manually,

And I gather there is no way to "guide" it to Address Book. Thanks.

Nope. You could enable Sync Services and have the content of the system
Address Book sync with the Entourage address book though,


Corentin

 

[Norm]

Nope. You could enable Sync Services and have the content of the system
Address Book sync with the Entourage address book though,

Thanks much for the additional information.