Windows Installer

[Artie18]

I posted this same problem on 12/17/03 and got zero responses! It’s difficult for me to believe that no one can come up with a fix for this problem:

The Windows Installer that should work to identify and download updates to Microsoft Office 2002 is inoperative. Whenever I try to use it, whether to scan the program for any needed update, or to download an identified update, I get a message to the effect that the installer is not working because, (1) I may not have administrator privileges; or, (2) I have previously upgraded from Windows Installer version 1.0 to version 1.1. (Neither of these reasons are applicable, as I do have administrator privileges, and I did not upgrade the Installer file.), or (3) Windows Installer patch files (.msp) may be missing from my computer. I have searched all files and folders (including hidden ones) on my computer and cannot find any .msp files.

Note: Prior to mid-December I used the Microsoft Office update program on many occasions without any problems. Also, I am currently able to use the Microsoft Windows Update facility to both scan for updates and download applicable updates. It is only the MS Office facility that is inoperative.


A complete copy of the Error language follows:

Error! Unable to check for updates on this computer


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 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.

Search for Office updates in the Download Catalog
Report the error to Microsoft

[CrazyMike]

Make sure you have an administrator account and have you tried reinstalling Office 2002 and see if the problems stop?

[Artie18]

I do have administrator privileges, and I previously reinstalled Office 2002 from my CD's without any change in the problem.

[Confused]

Originally posted by Artie18 (3) Windows Installer patch files (.msp) may be missing from my computer. I have searched all files and folders (including hidden ones) on my computer and cannot find any .msp files.

Have you tried to restore this file from your OS CD using SFC?
Chas

[Artie18]

No, I have'nt. How do I do that?

Art

[andyms18a]

Click Start, and then click Run.
In the Open box, type cmd, and then click OK.
At the command prompt, type sfc /scannow, and then press ENTER.
For additional information about System File Checker, click the following article number to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:
310747 Description of Windows XP and Windows Server 2003 System File Checker (Sfc.exe)

[andyms18a]

also this may help http://support.microsoft.com/default...&Product=ofw2k

[Artie18]

OK, guys . . . the mystery continues: I ran the System File Checker from the command prompt. It, apparently, did not find any corrupted files. After it was finished I tried the MS Office Updater and got the same error message as prior. I then accessed the Microsoft article referenced in andyms18a’s reply and went down the list one by one, and performed each task. Upon the conclusion of each task I tried accessing the MS updater and got the same error message each time. After deleting the Office Updater 11 folder and deleting three opuc.dll files I had some hope things would change, as after accessing the Office Update program I could see that a new updater was being loaded. However, after it was loaded and the detection system started it produced the same error message. Note: Disabling Zone Alarm Pro also had no effect on the problem, besides the MS program is listed in my trusted zones with pass thru allowed.

Artie 18

[DougL]

Hi Artie 18

Friend of mine had a problem with windows installer error message when loading software he was told to enter the following two lines at the command prompt

msiexec.exe /unregister
msiexec.exe /regserver

I'm not sure if its the same problem as you are experiencing but it worked for him.

Doug

[Artie18]

OK, I entered the above commands which were accepted OK. Unfortunately, the program will still not respond.