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Windows XP forum: Windows Installer CleanUp utility to facilitate an uninstall

by: wombat53 November 24, 2008 11:11 AM PST

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Windows Installer CleanUp utility to facilitate an uninstall

by wombat53 - 11/24/08 11:11 AM

Hi all - WIN SP PRO SP3
I upgraded to Office 2003 from its predecessor, which seemed not to delete/uninstall any of the old Office 10 files (Office XP Pro). I took a system restore point, and uninstalled Office XP Pro from Control Panel Add/Remove, successfully.
Due to a totally unrelated software program corruption, I reverted to the system restore point, which of course put the Office 10 files back. Now I get error "the patch package could not be opened" when trying to again unstall it. MS says to use this above named utility which will remove the installation info for programs installed by the WIN installer, so that you can "start the installation, upgrade or uninstall over". Has anyone had experience with this utility? I want to "uninstall over". How can this be done if the "installation files" are removed? I do not want to to be forced re-install Office XP Pro (the predecessor), especially having a successfuly MS OFFFICE 2003 installation up and running. If it should "force" that path, I feel that would get things in a real knot.
Thanks
George


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Lesson learned.

by R. Proffitt Moderator - 11/24/08 11:16 AM

In Reply to: Windows Installer CleanUp utility to facilitate an uninstall by wombat53

Uninstall all other Office versions first. If you have an Office Upgrade CD then have the old Office CD handy for proof. But what is there to fix here if Office 2003 is up and running?

I do know that some are looking for any file that isn't needed and those are best left without reply.
Bob


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What lesson is that?

by wombat53 - 11/24/08 11:29 AM

In Reply to: Lesson learned. by R. Proffitt Moderator

R.
Thanks for the prompt reply.
"Uninstall all other Office versions first"
Well, first I can't uninstalll the Office XP Pro, that is the kernel of the problem.

What I want to fix is to unistall that Office XP Pro which was never deleted in the upgrade to Offc 2003, and consumes considerable disk space (as well as being an annoyance).
George


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Ever hear of ?

by R. Proffitt Moderator - 11/24/08 11:50 AM

In Reply to: What lesson is that? by wombat53

The Office Cleanup Utility from the ORK? (No, I'm not pulling something from Batman's utility belt or from the planet ORK.)

Here's a link to the 2003 ORK -> http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?FamilyID=4bb7cb10-a6e5-4334-8925-3bcf308cfbaf&DisplayLang=en

I see they've renamed and moved things around, but that's the ORK for you.

Then again you could do this the old fashioned way with explorer and the delete key.
Bob


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Offfice Cleanup - again

by wombat53 - 11/24/08 12:06 PM

In Reply to: Ever hear of ? by R. Proffitt Moderator

R.
Again, thanks for prompt reply. No, don't know ORK.
I ran the utility I mentioned, and it completely removed all references to to predecessor Office (XP PRO) from Control Panel).
All old files sill exist under D:\Microsoft Office\Office10, which I apear to have no use for.
So this leaves me with one simple question.
Can I just delete them, given that the new upgrade appears in its entirety under D:\Microsoft Office\OFFICE11?
I guess a simple way is to just rename the former folder, and see if any adverse effects?
Why on earth the upgrade didn't do this, I cannot imagine.
Of course, as you suggestioned "old fashioned way with explorer and the delete key".
George


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I've just deleted them.

by R. Proffitt Moderator - 11/24/08 12:11 PM

In Reply to: Offfice Cleanup - again by wombat53

I have zero issues since I have a clone of the drive when I want to use the harsher methods. In your case why not rename that directory to oldoffice10 so you can recover if it didn't like it?

As to why, the answer is far longer than what I'll type but it has to do with old versions, macros, offices with addins that were dependent on those leftovers.


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