WinXP SP2 Office problem!

Hi!

Since I installed SP2 on win XP I haven't been able to install a fully functional version of Office. I suspect the problem either has to do with SP2 somehow, or possibly with Norton, but as I'm not sure, I'll have to take you through the entire process... This is what happened:

I auto streamed my XP pro disk with SP2. The only other modifications I made to the new image before burning, was to add internet connectivity and themes. (That I was recommended by a friend, who has done the exact same modifications and doesn't have the same problem) After that I did a clean install.

Then I proceeded to install the Office 2003 that I just upgraded to (been on officeXP before). Install went well, but the first time I started Word, I got a popup warning from Norton saying something about not being able to repair the program. Sorry I don't have the exact phrasing of this (only happened once). I clicked ok, and then the Windows Installer launched saying: Preparing to install... and it gave me a Setup popup saying: This MSI must be launched through setup. That popup comes 3 times, and when I press OK, Word launches fine and I can use it normally. From that day on, I get the windows installer and the 3 popups every time I start word or powerpoint.

I tried the repair install. No change. I uninstalled Office 2003 and installed Office XP. Same problem, so it doesn't seem to have to do with Office. I have now uninstalled Office XP and I'm back on Office 2003. I can use it, but it is such a hassle... I have also made a clean install on my dad's ancient laptop, same programs (more or less) and I got the same problem there.

The Windows installer launches when I try to open Word or a PP presentation. But not with Excel or the other "main" office components. This happens both if I try to open a word/ppt document, or if I try to start either of those programs from the start menu.

The only other program that I have that I think could mess things up is Norton 2005. I use MSN, and I do get the windows installer there too, occasionally, but I've heard that is normal with msn... I have uninstalled the windows messenger, dunno if that could cause any problems (as you hear, I'm grasping for straws here... )

If anyone has an idea what could cause this (and possibly a cure) I would be extremely grateful!

I can of course add other information you might need, such as hardware specs, info on what other programs I have.

"Santa" has given me a new 200 gb hdd and I'm dying to install it, but I don't want to do that till I've sorted this problem!

Sorry about the length of this!

 

Oh, I forgot... I have installed servicepack 1 for Office 2003... No change.

 

Thanks, Halo!

Norton is updated. Haven't used a patch, since everything else worked fine, and I didn't install Office till about a week after I installed everything else, so I didn't make that connection at first.

I will look in to the patch suggestion, thanks!

Next time I install, I will install Office the first thing I do after I install the OS, before any other installs or changes. Then it will be easier to rule out what the problem is. Probably won't have time to do that in a day or 2 though, for some odd reason this time of year is slightly hectic!

 

Looks like I probably have necessary patches through live update. I'll uninstall norton 2005 during the weekend to see if that cures it. If it does, I think I will have a serious talk with Mr Norton!

I find it so strange that no one has heard of this problem! Must make my computer very rare!

 

I've run both TuneUp Utilities reg cleaner and jv16 PowerTools cleaner between the uninstalls and installs of office, but I haven't started messing with norton yet...

I'll try to get my hands on my dad's computer over the weekend, so that I have someone elses computer to mess with, that feels safer!

And then after that, I'll install my new hdd and then I'll make sure to install office before anything else. If norton is the culprit I could go back to an older version of it I suppose. Or get zonealarm, it is the firewall I'm mostly interested in anyway!

Thanks for all your help and suggestions! Feels good that I'm not the only one who can't find the solution, makes me feel a lot better about myself!

 

You are right! That does sound like a solution! I will try it tomorrow when I install my new baby!

Thank you so very much for goign through all that trouble!
(((((hugs)))))
I'll let you know if it worked!

 

Yes!

Not till today was I finished reinstalling everything. This time I installed Office first, and Norton afterwards. Same problem occured, but disabling the plugins worked like a charm.

Guess I'll have to be careful when I have a document I don't know where it comes from, but I was careful before too, so I'm not worried!

Strangest thing though... When I went to Windows Update for the first time, I got the same Norton popup when I wanted to install the software for downloads..... There seems to be something seriously wrong in Nortons head! I could still download the software, and Norton isn't complaining about updates, so I guess I shouldn't have to mess more with it. Very strange though!

So thank you very much for helping me!