Windows Installer Always Trying to Install Office Product

[daroy]

I've just purchased a used desktop and had XP installed.
I created shortcuts for the main Office applications
(Word, Access, etc.) and put them onto the desktop. Doing
so duplicated the shortcuts in the Recycle Bin for some
reason, and after I deleted them, the Windows Installer
pops up whenever I try to open an Office application.
Clicking Cancel gets rid of the Installer window, and the
application then opens up normally; however, this is
irritating, to say the least.

Any idea on how and why this happened, and what the best
method of elimination might be?

Thanks,

Dan