[chicken_little]

Problem there is office 2002 is still shown as installed, 2003 is not shown. when i try to uninstall it windows installer hangs for two minutes, then displays an error message 'this patch package could not be opened, verify that the patch package exists and that you can access it, or contact the application vendorto verify that this is a valid windows installer package'.

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Click start, click my computer, double click the local disc, click programme files

Find Microsoft Office folder, right click it, click properties, how big is it

[Retired Tech]

Click start, click my computer, double click the local disc, click programme files

Find Microsoft Office folder, right click it, click properties, how big is it

[chicken_little]

You are quite correct Keith, there was not much in the office 2002 folder, so i presumed that most of it had already been uninstalled by the failed install of office 2003. So i backed up as much of my documents / pictures / utilities ect as i could, then installed office 2003 again, i selected to do the upgrade (with removal of the previous version ) which was recommended, and it worked a treat!
many thanks to both you guys for your assistance.
regards, Dave.

[Retired Tech]

Thank You for letting us know

[chicken_little]

Hi Tony sorry to be a pain,
Office 2003 is working fine, in add/remove programs listings both 2003 and officexp pro2002 are both shown as installed. I assumed the 2002 would have been overwritten with the 2003 install? I ticked the 'recommended' option of upgrade when installing 2003.

The 2002 install shows 398MB, and the fully ms updated 2003 shows 439MB. Is it safe to try to uninstall 2002, or are some files in use by 2003?


many thanks.

[Retired Tech]

Two things will happen, you remove 2002 and it goes away, or you remove 2002 and it takes 2003 with it, unlikely but possible

As you have just installed 2003 it is worth removing 2002 even if it means you have to re-install 2003

[Ron W]

I used the windows installer cleanup and it worked like a charm. I had a busted installation of Office 2003 60-day trial and kept getting the "Preparing to install" message on reboots and whenever I started Internet Explorer. Looks like it is all fixed. Thanks Keith.

[Retired Tech]

Thank You for letting me know