Why won't my Office XP updates load?

[Dad of 8]

I keep getting an error msg while running auto detect updates. Am unable to
load either manually or automatically. Help!

 

[Susan Ramlet]

Hi, Dad of 8,

Would you please post back with the error message, and what version of
Office you are trying to update (as well as the operating system)?

 

[Dad of 8]

Hi Susan,

Sorry about that. I'm running XP Home edition and Office XP, Student and
Teacher. BTW, thanks for the speedy reply!

Here's the error message:

Office Update is unable to check for updates Help

The Office Update site is unable to check for updates on this computer. This
may be happening because of one of the following reasons:

You do not have administrative privileges for this computer.
There is a network problem and the detection catalog used by the Office
Update site failed to download. Go back to the Downloads home page and try
running detection again.
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.
Please contact Microsoft Product Support Services for assistance.
You installed Office updates in the past and then upgraded from Windows
Installer version 1.0 to Windows Installer version 1.1. For more information
see the KB article Windows Installer May Prompt for Install Source if
Unavailable.

Now, I have admin priv's as this is my laptop. So I'm not sure what's going

 

[Susan Ramlet]

Have you run a system restore or third-party utility to clean up your hard
drive? Those can cause problems with previous patch files that were cached
on your system

See if the suggested resolution steps in one of these articles helps:

The update process starts and then unexpectedly quits after you click "Check
for Updates" on the Office Update Web site:
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;304498

PRB: Windows System Restore Does Not Monitor Windows Installer Patch (.msp)
Files:
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;814833

If all else fails, try running the Windows Installer Cleanup Utility to
remove any bad Windows Installer entries, re-install Office and try the
updates again:

You receive the "This patch package could not be opened" error message in
Office 2003, in Office XP, or in Office 2000:
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;295823

Description of the Windows Installer CleanUp Utility:
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;290301