I'm using windows 2000 professional.
A short while ago i installed MS Works, to access a few files. Afterwards I uninstalled works, because I didnt think i would need it anymore. As it turns out, uninstalling Works was a critical mistake, because it kindly messed up all of Microsoft Office which I now can not use.
The way I found out is that windows installer started running, wishing to install Microsoft Office 2000 SR to my PC and demanding a file data1.msi which is supposedly on the Office installation CD.
Unfortunately I dont have any CD's because I bought the PC with w?ndows and office preinstalled.
It doesn't matter, because I've already learnt that people who do have the CD were also unable to fix this problem, because the installer does not recognise the file on the Office disk anyway since the Works installation has overwritten it with another, quite incompatible, file.
Everytime I open a file, or receive a file via MSN messenger for example, that tries to open in any Office apps, the installer starts running again.
A little research has told me this bug has been around since the beginning of ages.... well the beginning of Win2k at the very least.... and no fix of course.
I've found one guide by a dude named tom tom:
Unfortunately i cannot get further then step 1 because my cabs\w2k is nowhere to be found for me.1. run>regedit>edit>find and enter Data1.msi. When it finds it double click in the right valves window, and when the box comes up enter the code for the package you have DATA1PRO.MSI. There is a MS page that gives the various codes for Office Premium etc (pmm). Also look at the source file path, and change it to where you have your Office Package (I have mines on my C: drive, I saved it there while I was solving this, but you can do it on your CD drive D: or Q: etc.
2. Search and find C:\cabs\w2k in the registry in the old Word 2000 program you got with your PC, or part of the Works Suite, and once you find it delete the whole folder, it will have a 30 odd alphanumeric code ,don't fiddle with it, DELETE IT!!!!
3. Search and find C:\cabs\w2k again in the registry for the SR-1 upgrade, this is the mother that caused all the problems, and once you find it again delete the whole folder, it will have another 30 odd alphanumeric code and is either above or below the one you just deleted, "DELETE THE MOTHER". We can find out later if it is worth the risk of running SP2 and 3 later. But at least we can make a restore point now.
When you run Winword it searches for a few seconds and then runs normally, Phew! at last.
If nothing else can be done I'm looking at a fresh install, which I'm really not looking forward to at all.
Does anybody have any ideas how to fix this?
