win98 installer fails for office 2000

Win98 with all updates current running on a cpi latitude. Life is slow, but good.
Installed a newsreader, tried it, didn't like it, uninstalled it.. It stepped all over my registry. Life is bad.
Spent several days cleaning things up. System Suite 4.0, registry cleaning, deleting temp files. Backed up personal files & reinstalled win98. Applied all updates again. Life is slow, but Word & powerpig won't start. Asks to be reinstalled.

Get my cd & attempt a reinstall of Microsoft Office.
Get the error message: This patch package could not be opened. Verify that the patch package exists....etc.

Read many boards... search msoft site.

MY GOAL: office & powerpoint working on my win98 box again.

WHAT I HAVE TRIED:
1. reinstall of windows 98
2. miscuu2.exe
3. remove all entries for microsoft office from registry with regedit
4. systemsuite 4.0 registry fixer

WHAT HAS HAPPENED:
Prior to registry removal of office entries, the error pop-up window was immediate. Now it will spin up the drive about 3 times before the pop-up window shows up, it definitely takes longer for it to fail.

I'd appreciate advice from anyone. My searchs for installer failure, win98, office 2000 fail seem to be too generic or relate to the application failing rather than the installation failing.

WHAT I WONDER:
It 'feels like' I'm using too current an installer with an older cd. Gut feel. I'm clueless & getting grumpy about this.

 

Does this help: http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;295823