Problems with Free update to Office 2007 Basic Edition From Office 2003 Edition

Question

I received my free Office 2007 Basic Edition update yesterday. When I install it, Outlook 2007 is not available for installation. The Basic Edition is supposed to include Word, Excel and Outlook. I confirmed this with Dell's customer service online chat. However, the Dell representative says I will have to take this up with Microsoft. Has anybody else run into an Outlook 2007 installation problem?

Rebel9 · Answer

Mary, Shouldn't the 2007 install automatically remove a previous version (unless of course the user did a custom install and specifically instructed the installer not to replace Outlook)?

Mary G · Answer

This is normal. You must uninstall Outlook first since 2 versions cannot coexist on the same computer. Your personal files will not be affected, but you should back them up first. Then after installing outlook, use File, Open, Outlook Data File to open your pst file. Do NOT use Import. That can corrupt the personal file.

Message Edited by Mary G on 03-17-2007 12:24 PM

D5 · Answer

I tried to install by uninstalling Office 2003 first and also by letting 2007 recognize 2003 and also by doing a custom install. In each case the installation showed Outlook 2007 as not available to install from the Office 2007 CD.

Rebel9 · Answer

What applications are available for install?

D5 · Answer

That's the problem. On the Office 2007 Basic Edition, there is supposed to be Word, Excel and Outlook. But if you check the CD, Outlook is unavailable for installation. Dell has confirmed it should be there, but they also told me I would have to deal with Microsoft. They said there was nothing they could do. Since I purchased this from Dell, it would seem they would resolve the problem.

Rebel9 · Answer

I'm not sure what you mean by 'unavailable for installation'. Is Outlook simply not on the CD or are you getting some message that tells you that Outlook can't be installed? If you are doing a Custom install and you see Outlook as one of the programs available, does it simply have a big 'X' through it and the words 'Unavailable for installation' (or something along those lines)?

D5 · Answer

That is correct. It has a big 'X' through it and the words 'Unavailable for installation'.

Rebel9 · Answer

OK - Outlook is there. If I remember correctly, right click the outlook icon and select "run from my computer". You can then expand all of the available options and select what options you want to install. You can also expand all of the options for Word and Excel and select what options you want to install for these applications.

Good Luck.

Message Edited by Rebel9 on 03-18-2007 01:08 PM

D5 · Answer

That is the problem. Word and Excel can be expanded and do include the usual 'run from my computer' etc..., However, Outlook is red 'X''d and the only option when expanded is 'Not Available'.

D5 · Answer

That is what I am Saying.

Rebel9 · Answer

Do you have ANY of the programs referred to in the article? If so, uninstall them and try again. If not, I don't know what to suggest. Message Edited by Rebel9 on 03-18-2007 01:55 PM

D5 · Answer

Yes, my last post to you.

D5 · Answer

I looked at the link. It appears by what I read there, in each case if there is a non compatible program, the 2007 installation program should prompt asking to keep or remove the offending program. But then again, I uninstalled the 2003 office prior to installing 2007 and it didn' t make a difference.

Rebel9 · Answer

Are you saying that if you right click on the Outlook icon, the 'run from my computer' options (and a few others) are not there? If this is the case, have a look at this:   http://support.microsoft.com/kb/287765/en-us

Windows General

Problems with Free update to Office 2007 Basic Edition From Office 2003 Edition

Was this post helpful?