Preparing to Install

[nasib]

A problem that some kind person maybe able to help with...
Dell Ispiron 6000 Laptop, Windows XP Home with all updates, IE7, Office 2007.
Due to time on my hands over the last few days I was tinkering! I know, I know, but .....
I Uninstalled Office 2003 which I THINK may have caused the problem. Now every time I start IE7 (and some other programs) I get a "Preparing to Install" screen which holds up the start of the particular software for perhaps 2 minutes before anything happens. Then the software starts with nothing apparently installed.
I have looked in Pprune and on the Internet. This is apparently not an unusual problem. I have done numerous things including reinstalling IE7 to no avail. I have resorted to disabling Windows Installer (via msconfig/services) as a temporary measure. This speeds things a little but I still get a "flash" of the Installer which would suggest it starts and is immediately stopped.
This problem does not occur when using Firefox as a Browser but still does with any Office application, as well as some other software.
Any suggestions for a more permanent solution would be much appreciated.
Nasib

Ps Happy New Year

[ZH875]

It looks like the uninstall routine has removed some of the relevant registry entries.

Probably the best solution at this stage would be to re-install your Office 2007, using the repair option, to see if that corrects the problem.

I had a similar problem when I removed Office 2007 leaving the 2003 version, as Outlook had to be reinstalled and some changes made to the outlook entries in the registry.

[nasib]

Many thanks for that. Just "repaired" Office 2007 and unfortunately it made no difference. "Preparing to Install" seems to come up with lots of applications some nothing to do Microsoft at all.

Thanks for trying anyway.

Nasib

[stickyb]

Do another install, select the change/remove option, go into advanced options, and make sure that "run froim my hard drive" is selected for all products.

[ZH875]

or just reinstall office 2003, which I believe is a far better product than 2007.

[nasib]

Quote
Do another install, select the change/remove option, go into advanced options, and make sure that "run froim my hard drive" is selected for all products
Unquote

Thanks stickyb

Just so I understand.... Another install of Office 2007? And I'm not sure where/how to do the "run from my hard drive" bit. Is it from the Add/Remove in Control Panel? If so, I can't see where the advanced options are.

I'll try anything. Thanks again

Nasib

[ZH875]

When you get into the install office 2007, select customise, and you will see what is selected to run from hard disk or install when first run, I think a right click will let you select the options.

[nasib]

Thanks.

Tried that but no joy. Since this problem manifests itself with other software when launched, I assume it's not necessarily to do with Office.

Is there a way of repairing/reinstalling Windows Installer? Or is it an integral part of Windows?

Many thanks.

Nasib

[ZH875]

IIRC I cured my problem by diving into the registry.

Not too sure what I did, but somewhere in the HKCU/microsoft/software/windows area there was something that was calling an add in for explorer that was missing, so everytime explorer called a program the installer was run.

If I remember roughly where it was, I will dive in and have a look.

[Sh3113y]

Try going back to a restore point.

[nasib]

ZH875
If I remember roughly where it was, I will dive in and have a look.

Many thanks




Sh3113y
Try going back to a restore point.

Thank you. Tried that first. Didn't help unfortunately.