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Author Topic: [FIXED] Excel starts a Windows Installer Instance  (Read 14724 times)

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stringo0

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    [FIXED] Excel starts a Windows Installer Instance
    « on: July 05, 2008, 10:46:25 PM »
    Hi,

    Whenever I try to open an excel file, it opens in notepad. If I try to start excel from the start menu, I get a Windows Installer instance.

    It was working just moments before - I was working with a csv file.

    Any ideas?

    Thanks & God Bless
    « Last Edit: July 28, 2008, 03:30:16 PM by stringo0 »

    Carbon Dudeoxide

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    Re: Excel starts a Windows Installer Instance
    « Reply #1 on: July 06, 2008, 10:36:18 AM »
    What is the exact error message? Is Excel trying to install itself?

    What Operating System?

    stevejohnson1958

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    Re: Excel starts a Windows Installer Instance
    « Reply #2 on: July 06, 2008, 10:46:16 AM »
    To set the file association of an excel (.xls) file to open with your Excel program, simply right click the file and select Open with, followed by selecting Excel as the associated program.  Don't forget to Apply/Save your settings.  This will associate those file types with Excel and should open them properly in the future.

    One other thing you may want to do is to visit the Office Update site located at:  http://office.microsoft.com/en-us/downloads/maincatalog.aspx

    You'll need to validate your copy of Microsoft Office...then continue to follow the directions in order to update your version of Office.

    Make sure you have your Office software available...just in case you need it.

    Continue to visit the Office Update site to make sure you have all of the updates installed for your version of Office.

    Once this is done, you may continue to see this Installation wizard...it's Excel's way of completing an installation if there have been any changes made to its original configuration.

    Hope this helps...and please, keep us posted...

    stringo0

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      Re: Excel starts a Windows Installer Instance
      « Reply #3 on: July 06, 2008, 08:11:28 PM »
      Will try the update.

      Basically, excel was working, then stops working and just starts a windows installer dialogue. Word etc. works fine.

      This is Excel 2007 which I purchased from school.

      OS: Windows XP Professional fully updated (but probably SP2, didn't notice SP3 being automatically updated)

      Carbon Dudeoxide

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      Re: Excel starts a Windows Installer Instance
      « Reply #4 on: July 06, 2008, 09:10:34 PM »
      What happens if you press Cancel in the Installation Dialogue?

      stringo0

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        Re: Excel starts a Windows Installer Instance
        « Reply #5 on: July 06, 2008, 09:17:48 PM »
        It cancels and disappears.

        When I go to the update link you gave, I get the following(I added hard breaks in lines):

        Code: [Select]
        Office Update is unable to check for updates 
        The Office Update site is unable to check for updates on this computer.
        This may be happening because of one of the following reasons:

        You do not have administrative privileges for this computer.
        There is a network problem and the detection catalog used by the Office Update site failed to download.
        Go back to the Downloads home page and try running detection again.
        Windows Installer patch files (.MSP files) from previously applied Office updates are missing from the
        \Windows\Installer hidden directory on your computer.
        MSP files are stored on your computer after update installation completes because they need to be referenced
         for future update operations.
        If the files are missing you will not be able to apply Office updates.
        You may also be unable to uninstall Office products as a result of the same problem. Please contact
        Microsoft Product Support Services for assistance.
        You installed Office updates in the past and then upgraded from Windows Installer version 1.0 to
        Windows Installer version 1.1.
        For more information see the KB article Windows Installer May Prompt for Install Source if Unavailable.


        Search for Office updates in the Download Catalog

        Out of 3 patches, I was manually able to update one patch, but the other 2 patches gave me update detection errors.

        Could this be caused by running CCleaner?

        stevejohnson1958

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        Re: Excel starts a Windows Installer Instance
        « Reply #6 on: July 07, 2008, 03:28:52 AM »
        It is possible that CCleaner could have been the culprit here.

        Best bet would be to uninstall Office and then reinstall.  Once installed...follow the previous link I gave you to update your Office suite.

        Keep us posted...

        stringo0

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          Re: Excel starts a Windows Installer Instance
          « Reply #7 on: July 08, 2008, 02:21:42 AM »
          Will keep you posted.

          stringo0

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            Beginner

            Re: Excel starts a Windows Installer Instance
            « Reply #8 on: July 28, 2008, 03:29:59 PM »
            A reinstall fixed it, even though I dislike reinstalls! :P

            Thanks for the help & God Bless

            stevejohnson1958

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            Re: [FIXED] Excel starts a Windows Installer Instance
            « Reply #9 on: July 29, 2008, 05:08:54 PM »
            Glad to hear you're back on track...


            All the best!