fax patch package

I have windows xp with service pack 2. I have sent several faxes successfully and I received one last week. The fax came in ok but when I tried to view it the windows installer started up and after a few minutes it stalled with the message "operation cannot be completed " under details it stated " the fax patch package could not be opened " it showed a 20 digit number. I have tried several times with the same result. I have uninstalled and reinstalled the fax through windows and reinstalled the drivers. I have also run a pgm called msicuu.exe which I found referenced on another forum. I think this might be related to a trial version of office which was on my machine when I bought it. It is not active and I don't seem to be able to delete it.
Any ideas?
Thank you for any help.

 

I can't believe that no one has ever heard of or had a patch package failure.

 

PeteC First, thanks for your interest in my little problem. Yes, it does indicate that office is involved. I thought I had run the utility msicuu2 but it didn't do anything. I tried it again and got a completly different screen. Apparently all I did before was install it? Anyway it was scarry without knowing what it does but I selected "microsoft office" and it sure enough deleted all the unwanted office stuff. I don't get the patch package anymore, I get the message "this action cannot be completed" and under details it states" This action is only valid for products that are currently installed ".
The fax package for windows is installed, I can send, receive and print faxes; I just cannot view them! It is looking for the "windows picture and fax viewer ". I don't have a clue if I ever had this or not. I don't see it anywhere to install. Any ideas? Also, after running the msicuu2 pgm I find I cannot do an explorer search, before I can type in a search argument it tells me that explorer has found an error and refers me to microsoft to do an update to my office products. I don't have any and I sure dont think the explorer function has anything to do with office. I feel like I'm in a giant circle jerk and being further behind the 8 ball every day. Do you see any connection with these problems?
Thanks again, rodrocket http://www.windowsbbs.com/images/smilies/eek.gif

 

Pete C, Thanks again for your help. I ran regsvr32 shimgvw.dll and it told me it worked. No change to my problem. When I try to view a fax it tells me "tje operation cannot be completed" and under details it states "tjis action is only valid for products that are currently installed" Of course the fax system is installed or I couldn't send and receive faxes. My other problem is really weird, if I try to do a search as soon as I try to enter a file name it come up with the microsoft error and wants to sent a report to them. If I ignor this and enter my search terms it proceeds to do the search correctly. I cannot exit the microsoft message, it gives me the blue screen and the desktop. If I move the message around I can read the screen ok. I haven't tried your replacement suggestion yet but I will. This thing with "office" seems to have come up after I ran the utility msicuu2. I liked dos better. You could at least control what was happenning. Thanks again, Rodrocket