MS Installer Clean-up Utility

Someone in another forum was having problems with Windows Installer coming up when they tried to click on their MS Word or Excel programs. I told them to d/l and run the Installer clean-up utility, which solved that problem, but now they are saying that they are getting this message when they click on a particular file:

"The windows installer failed to instal the pogram associated with this file please contact system administrartor "

I do feel partially responsible for this, since they were following my advice. Any suggestions? I searched the MS site and didn't find to much the first few pages of results.

 

Hi Paul,

Understand how you feel.

If this happens with a particular file only, then there is something wrong with that file or there is problems with the program version they are using.

If its the file, it has to be re created, either with a backup or manually. Or the program has to be reinstalled. Quoting from the MS Doc:

The problem predates the use of the cleanup tool and once the configuration information was removed, the original problem came to the fore.

Regards - Charles

 

So you are saying the guy should reinstall MS Office?

No, from his language in the post, he is saying that he can't open any MS Word or Excel files, so it wouldn't just be one particular file.

He'll be releived to know that the goof-up isn't my fault, and that the problem predated the MSICU. Actually, you meant that comment for me--the relief is mine.

 

Hi Paul,

If the poster would rather deal with the original condition prior to using the tool, then have them do a System Restore, backup the files - as usual it sounds like the files aren't backed up, most people don't seem to backup, only getting religion when trouble occurs.

Still will have to deal with an underlying problem with Ms Office.

Regards - Charles

 

I will offer using System Restore as one possibility. As far as the underlying problem with MS Office is concerned, the only solution is to reinstall? Let's hope he has the original cds.

 

Oops Charles, he doesn't have the 2003 office cd (I just read that in his first post). Apart from using System Restore (which I'm not sure would work in this instance), is there anything else I can tell him?

 

Hi Paul,

Can't think of anything else at the moment.

Regards - Charles

 

OK I mentioned that data.bak file option. Thanks anyways, both of you.

 

Hi Paul,

Any feedback on this?

BTW, I came across a reference to the uninstaller utility and did find out that the configuration is stored in the Registry, so a System Restore would undo the unintaller utility's effects.

Regards - Charles

 

Thanks, Charles. I'll pass that info along. NO feedback--the guy said he was going to get IT help on that.