Problem when launching Excel

Question

Hi. Excel worked fine for two years then one day, whenever I launched Excel, a Windows Installer window popped up and the following series of messages are displayed: 'preparing to install' then 'Please wait while windows configures MicroSoft Office Basic Edition 2003' then 'The feature you are trying to use is on a CD-ROM or other removable disk that is not available. Insert the 'Microsoft Office Basic Edition 2003' disk and click OK' Now, if I click CANCEL during these messages, Excel runs fine. The PROBLEM is when I am trying to IMPORT into Excel. The same series of messages starts and if I cancel, the import can not proceed. If I do not cancel, I reach a dead-end at the message that tells me to insert the disk. My Dell computer came new with Excel loaded. Whether or not I received the Excel discs with the computer, I don't know... I certainly don't have them now. Anyone know if there is a fix for this? Thanks much for any help!

RoHe · Answer

Go here and download Microsoft Installer Cleanup Utility. Run the utility and when asked to pick an application, pick Excel. http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;290301 Ron

txpeggyl · Answer

Forgive me in advance for my ignorance!  I'm having the same problem as the original poster.  I need to reinstall whatever is missing.  I followed the link and it appeared to me that it would remove the program, not put back whatever it is that is missing.  I am reading this wrong?  I downloaded the program from the link and it looked like it would remove my excel?  I only want to replace whatever is missing so that a program that is lital to me will work.  Also, my power point has disappeared.  Thanks for anyone's help to my computer illiterate self!!

Pragmaniac · Answer

Ron:
Thank you very much, it worked!

txpeggyl:
Yes, you are reading it wrong. After you launch the utility, you select the application for which you want the Windows Installer configuration information removed. It does not remove the program itself.

Pragmaniac · Answer

Arghh... problems. My shortcut to Outlook now results in "The item you selected is unavailable, It might have been moved, renamed, or removed." When I attempt to search the hard drive to find Outlook, it displays "Windows Explorer has encountered a problem and needs to close."

I have restarted the PC and get the same error when attempting a search of my hard drive. Any suggestions?

RoHe · Answer

You guys scanned for malware lately?

If all this just started, maybe you should do a system restore. Personal files and software you installed will be ok, but any XP updates originally installed after the date used for the restore will have to be reinstalled.

click start>help&support
click "Undo changes..."
Follow prompts and pick latest date available when you know things worked ok. When that's done, go to MS update site and let it scan your system for any missing updates.

Ron

txpeggyl · Answer

Mine is not a malware problem, it's a boyfriend that is 'fixing' my computer to run faster.  He's made a bunch of changes over the last couple of months and promises to get time to 'fix' the problem.  I need my program to work, I use it in my business.  Doing a restore is not an option for me.  Can you please explain in a little more detail what I need to do to get the missing parts of Excel back?  I really don't know that much about computers, but would appreciate it if you could 'dummy' down the answer for me.  We all have out talents...mine is not computers...thankfully, your's is..your help is appreciated.

RoHe · Answer

txpeggyl Well, if you're sure it's not a malware problem... Why is 'doing a restore not an option' for you? None of your personal files will be affected by a System Restore. And if they're that important, you should have them backed up on CD or other external media anyway. Don't confuse System Restore (an XP feature) with PC Restore (a Dell feature) which resets the hard drive to exactly the way it was shipped. You don't know that any Excel features are actually missing. It's possible the Windows Installer just thinks something is missing but isn't. Run the cleanup utility, and if that doesn't fix the problem, we can try other options. You never said what version of Excel you have so it's hard to tell you what other measures you might use to fix it. And if you don't want to try my suggestions, there isn't much I can do to help you. Ron

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Problem when launching Excel

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