Excel 2000 install "uninstalls" Outlook 2003

[Deep Thought]

I do not have a full MS office suite installed on my p.c. have never needed
it - just Outlook 2003 and Word 2002. OS is XP SP2. My Outlook is my
"critical" program that I cannot live without so to speak and is used every
day.

I needed a spreadsheet program and had opportunity to buy Excel 2000 (all
above board, original licenced disc). I installed it today and all seemed
fine until I next tried to use Activesync with Outlook 2003... the program
reported that Outlook 2003 had been "uninstalled" and that Activesync could
not function(which alarmed me somewhat!). I uninstalled Excel 2000
immediately. Rebooted. Clicked on Outlook desktop short-cut and just before
the program opened I noticed the system appeared to be carrying out a
self-reinstallation process (what???). Fortunately Outlook seems to be
unscathed and all the data looks fine... but why is Excel doing this? I
assume it may be something to do with differing versions of office type
programs doing battle here but surely these two versions can co-exist? After
all, Word 2002 never caused these problems.

If Outlook 2003 was genuinely uninstalled in the procedure of installing
Excel then I am equally astonished that I had no warnings that it was about
to happen. Someone suggested might simply be a case of reinstalling
Activesync as the Outlook location may have been re-mapped int he process -
which is feasible BUT the self-reinstalling process I witnessed suggests
more than just a folder relocation...

 

[JohnF]

Always install Microsoft Office (and components) in order. Sorry!

Make a backup of your pst files before doing this.

Make a back-up of your Outlook pst (or ost) files. Uninstall all office
products. Reinstall in order Excel 2000, @ord 2002. Outlook 2003.

JohnF

 

[Guest]

You must custom install the old version in its own folder, not the default
Microsoft Office folder or it will overwrite the common files and OL 2003
will not work. You will not be able to use old Excel with Outlook, either.
Versions must match to work together.

 

[Deep Thought]

The second time I tried installed Excel 2000 I had the same train of thought
and when I was prompted for install location I deleted the "Microsoft
Office" part of c:/Programs/Microsoftoffice/ but still had the same problem.
The previous poster suggests install in "age order" the 3 office programs -
sounds feasible - does anyone else know of this?

Would simply acquiring, say, Excel 2003 be the simplest answer to my
problems?