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Oracle: Windows Installer

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Brian Wakeling

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Dec 15, 2009, 7:27:38 PM12/15/09
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I recently, for reasons I'd rather not go into, downloaded and
installed the MS Office 2007 version of Publisher, as a three month
trial version. Hours later, I had to download a package called
something like the "Office format converter to 2007", which basically
allowed me to use my Office XP files in Publisher, or something.

Anyway, today I decided I was never going to use Publisher again, so
went to the Control Panel, Add/Remove Programs, and uninstalled both
Publisher and the converter. Since that time, every time I have
started IE6 [1], a small dialog box appears in the middle of the
screen, titled "Windows Installer", and saying "Preparing to Install".
It's got a "Cancel" button, but no other information. It appears for
maybe a minute before disappearing with no apparent effects. Also,
when I start Outlook Express, the same thing happens, but as soon as
the installer window disappears, OE crashes [2] and sends an error
report. And none of my regular MS Office apps will start at all, I
just get a message (after the installer window) saying the package
can't be opened, am I sure the patch package exists, etc.

Does this seem like I need to find the converter again and re-install
it? Despite not having any Office 2007 applications?


[1] which I use because it's got a handy button that lets you
immediately edit the source of a webpage from Notepad, and I'm
currently redesigning my site
[2] hence sending this from Google Groups

Brian Wakeling

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Dec 16, 2009, 6:49:03 AM12/16/09
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Well, I re-installed the File Format Converters - it hasn't had any
effect.
As I see it now, my options are: 1) re-download the trial of Publisher
2007 and hope that fixes it, or 2) re-install Office XP and likewise
hope.

Can anyone offer advice please? Thanks

Large Dave

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Dec 16, 2009, 7:58:24 AM12/16/09
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http://www.google.com/search?q=ms+office+2007+uninstaller&ie=UTF-8

I had a similar problem when I upgraded to Office 2003. I used a
standalone uninstall office 97 tool, which fixed the problem. But I
can't remember which one :-)

Sorry I can't be more help.

--
Large Dave
This space accidentally left blank

F�achad�ir

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Dec 16, 2009, 2:43:45 PM12/16/09
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On Wed, 16 Dec 2009 12:58:24 +0000, Large Dave <Da...@nospam.invalid>
wrote:

Try CCleaner, it usually worked for me in my Windows days.

--
'Donegal: Up Here It's Different'
� F�achad�ir

Sabremeister Brian

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Dec 16, 2009, 4:08:45 PM12/16/09
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In a speech called t2eii5pksr15mp15p...@4ax.com,

Tried some of those today, had no effect. Eventually re-downloaded
and installed the Publisher Trial again. We'll see what happens
when it expires (60 days after first download)


> Try CCleaner, it usually worked for me in my Windows days.

I'll remember that, thanks.

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www.livejournal.com/users/sabremeister/
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"Give the man a biscuit! He knows his literature!"
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OG

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Dec 16, 2009, 4:34:52 PM12/16/09
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"Sabremeister Brian" <bpwak...@hotmail.com> wrote in message
news:7ot0j0F...@mid.individual.net...

Why not just reinstall Office XP?

Sabremeister Brian

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Dec 17, 2009, 12:17:49 PM12/17/09
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In a speech called 7ot23vF...@mid.individual.net,

It's less work to reinstall one app, than a whole bundle of them.


--
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www.livejournal.com/users/sabremeister/
Use brian at sabremeister dot me dot uk to reply

"The men who really believe in themselves are all in lunatic
asylums."
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Robert Carnegie

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Dec 21, 2009, 12:53:16 AM12/21/09
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I think Office's install has a "Repair" option, depending on version.
Am not sure what it's good for if not this.

Sabremeister Brian

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Dec 21, 2009, 6:48:19 AM12/21/09
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In a speech called
e1d67143-e1ed-4b39...@o28g2000yqh.googlegroups.com,

Robert Carnegie <rja.ca...@excite.com> said:
> Sabremeister Brian wrote:
>> In a speech called 7ot23vF...@mid.individual.net,
>> OG <ow...@gwynnefamily.org.uk> said:
>>> "Sabremeister Brian" <bpwak...@hotmail.com> wrote in message
>>> news:7ot0j0F...@mid.individual.net...
>>>> In a speech called
>>>> t2eii5pksr15mp15p...@4ax.com, F?achad?ir

...

I'd forgotten that.

--
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www.livejournal.com/users/sabremeister/
Use brian at sabremeister dot me dot uk to reply

"Damn you and your helpfulness!"
- Response to demonstrating some awesome organisational skills


Robert Carnegie

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Dec 30, 2009, 1:23:22 AM12/30/09
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Also <http://support.microsoft.com/kb/290301>
"Use the Windows Installer CleanUp Utility to remove Office 2000,
Office XP, or Office 2003"

I recently informed a Microsoft newsgroup that my intentionally
disabled AutoPlay option on one Windows XP machine was now un-disabled
for no good reason, and this is one of many less or more relevant and/
or alarming remedies suggested.

On that particular thing, my suspected causes by proximity in time
include: creating, removing, and re-lettering partitions (although
disablement was by drive type = any, mask 0xff); disabling "System
Restore" protection on some of the affected volumes, and using the
"clamscan" anti-virus provided with Linux SystemRescueCD 1.3.3 and
1.3.4. The last is an alarming thought, because I wanted to use it to
check a relative's machine too, but not if it fiddles with a machine.
I'm considering that perhaps instead of cleaining a machine, it
creates infection.

One of the other suggestions to me was to run a check with "Super
Antispyware". Does anyone have a long term relationship with that?
There isn't much about it in Google by third parties except for
cracked editions to download, which seems to miss the point.

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