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Shel Holtz
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Hosed by a Windows update

I know Microsofties are listening out there, so rather than rant and rave, I’ll just explain what happened and see if anyone from MS has a suggestion.

I’m running Windows XP SP-2 and have been happily running the public beta for Office 2007 (which I love). A minor problem has occurred whenever Microsoft releases an update. I have to repair the Office 2007 installation in order to get it working again. After this past week’s update, though, bigger problems occurred. I cannot get into Outlook, so I started a repair but got a message telling me the Office 2007 installation was corrupt and that I should reinstall. So I tried reinstalling, but that only got about 20% through the process before it gave me an error (2711, I believe). I tried uninstalling Office 2007 but got the same corrupt installation error. And reinstalling Office 2003 did no good at all—I cannot launch Outlook 2003 because of a mismatched .dll file.

So I have no Outlook and, effectively, no Office installation. I do have to wonder if these updates are tested against installations of Office 2007, so many of which have been installed that Microsoft has started charging for it!

So…any Microsofties out there with a clue what I should do?

10/14/06 | 10 Comments | Hosed by a Windows update

Comments
  • 1.Shel,
    First your fix, then the rant.

    My suggestion is for you to pull the Office (which should include Outlook) with classic control-panel uninstalls. Forget about mismatched dlls because they will be clean new installs and should wipe out the disconnect (if you pull your Office '07 with a classic control-panel uninstall). Just remember to grab your PST file from Outlook first and save them someplace.

    After Office is safely reinstalled, grab the old PST file and replace the system default PST file (which will be essentially empty) with your old one. That should get it done (until the next MS update)...

    One more thing: use Norton GoBack. It is a space hog but it would have saved you in the last instance.

    Now for the rant that you were too polite to write:

    I think that you are an unbelievable daredevil, to be running anything that has MS & Beta in the same breath.

    Don't think for an instant that updates are checked against any of the pre-release or beta products.

    In fact, in my world, we have an old saying that goes something like this:
    "Q: What is Microsoft's definintion of their beta test group? A: the general public."

    Who else would seriously consider their product "done" if they keep releasing patches and updates every week (notwithstanding the Homer Simpsonesque "d'oh" secutity patches).

    You must be kidding that these guys even talk to each other in different product silos.

    I think you are an incredible optimist, and admire your adventurous approach. Keep up the noble fight, as your war stories and experiences will help the rest of us who are a bit more timid than you are, in terms of using half-baked products for the thrill-seeker ride of it all.
    :)
    M

    Matt Weeks | October 2006 | Redwood City, CA

  • 2.A bummer, Shel, undoubtedly. Like you, I've been running Office 2007 beta for some time. After the tech refresh last month, Outlook pulled a major crash which left me with a completely unstable application. Behaviours included 100% CPU usage every now and again which basically locked up the PC during that time.

    So I uninstalled the beta and installed Office 2003 again from scratch.

    Yesterday, my PC grabbed the latest updates from Microsoft Update which included a number for Office. Early this morning, Outlook crashed and would not run again, not even in safe mode. This is Outlook 2003, don't forget, not the 2007 beta.

    Looking at the event viewer, the culprit is reported as mso.dll version 11.0.8107.0, a key file for running every Office app. If mso.dll was part of your issue, the version number will likely start at 12.

    Luckily a detect and repair worked and Outlook is now running fine again.

    Seems that the latest Microsoft update affects Office 2007 beta and the 2003 version.

    Matt's advice is probably the best, ie, uninstall Office completely and install again from scratch. If I were you, I'd go back to the 2003 version.

    Neville Hobson | October 2006 | UK

  • 3.Thanks, Matt. Unfortunately, the control panel uninstall did no good. When I tried it, I got the message indicating the installation was corrupt and needed to be re-installed. Re-installing didn't work, for a reason that was not explained in any on-screen message. I finally got someone to give me instructions on a piece-by-piece uninstall (many deletions from the registry), but with no time to spare, I finally just hauled the box to the shop for someone else to do.

    I must say, until this most recent Windows update gummed up the works, I was absolutely loving Office 2007. Since I understand the beta's about to end anyway, I'll just wait to buy the real thing which will, one hopes, be compatible with system updates.

    Shel Holtz | October 2006 | Concord, CA

  • 4.I have similar problem. Outlook say that he cant find my pst nieder do I. I cant repair or uninstall. Please help!

    mehonja | April 2007

  • 5.I use Outlook at my work and I find it very useful,it make our job easy .

    plumbing repairs | January 2008 | in the sky

  • 6.Seems that the latest Microsoft update affects Office 2007 beta and the 2003 version.

    software nederland | January 2008 | Jefferson, WI

  • 7.Have you all fixed this if not let me know

    Computer Forum

    ALL IN ONE FORUM | March 2008 | USA

  • 8.Yes it is all fixed now

    cyprus property | June 2008 | liverpool

  • 9.You could always try using Open Office instead of Microsoft

    Irish gifts | August 2008

  • 10.Another perfectly legitimate reason to make the switch over to Linux.!

    Randy | August 2008

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