Office 97 Pro installation problem on Win XP Pro with SP2

[Guest]

Hi,
I've had the misfortune of falling for this trap. I've read the other posts,
but they are not helpful because I purchased Win XP Pro with SP2. That is,
SP2 came as part of the Win XP Pro package.

Can I somehow uninstall SP2 components to allow me to install Office 97 Pro
etc before re-installing SP2 components?

I've posted this in Office newsgroup also.
Thanks in advance to you all.
John

 

[Carey Frisch [MVP]]

One cannot uninstall SP2 if it came preinstalled on your computer.
Consider upgrading to Microsoft Office 2003.

What's in the Office 2003 Editions?
http://www.microsoft.com/office/editions/howtobuy/compare.mspx

How to Buy Microsoft Office 2003
http://www.microsoft.com/office/editions/howtobuy/default.mspx

--
Carey Frisch
Microsoft MVP
Windows XP - Shell/User

Be Smart! Protect Your PC!
http://www.microsoft.com/athome/security/protect/default.aspx

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

:

| Hi,
| I've had the misfortune of falling for this trap. I've read the other posts,
| but they are not helpful because I purchased Win XP Pro with SP2. That is,
| SP2 came as part of the Win XP Pro package.
|
| Can I somehow uninstall SP2 components to allow me to install Office 97 Pro
| etc before re-installing SP2 components?
|
| I've posted this in Office newsgroup also.
| Thanks in advance to you all.
| John

 

[Bob Harris]

In theory, you could buy a retail copy of XP Pro that does not contain SP2,
and do a repair install. But, seriously, I would not recommend that; it
would also be about $300.

Either buy Office 2003, or try the free alternative called Open Office:

http://www.openoffice.org/

 

[Kevin]

Office 97 Professional won't install on a system running XP SP2? That
doesn't sound right. While I do not have the SP2 installed, and don't
intend to do so, I do have Office 97 Pro SR2 running just fine on my XP Home
SP1 system. I had to install SR2 for Office 97 Pro, but I would have
installed it anyway. It installed just fine before installing the SR2
patch.

 

[Guest]

Kevin,
Based on threads in Office newsgroup, it appears that Office 97 Pro works if
it is installed first with SR2 before upgrading to Win XP with SP2. However,
it does not install properly after you install Win XP with SP2. So this seems
to be a bug or a bad joke.
I can't believe it is right that MS expects loyal customers to be forced to
upgrade their Office Suite because of an OS upgrade that they themselves
produce. It's outrageous.
By the way, my PC didn't come preinstalled with XP Pro with SP2, I purchased
the OS that way and did a clean install. Not fair.
Thanks again.
John

 

[Guest]

Carey,
Thanks for the response.
You have assumed that I purchased my PC with it pre installed. Not so. I
purchased Win XP Pro with SP2 as a single install upgrade. That MS sells the
OS in this packaged fashion, with no apparent solution for loyal customers
with an original copy of Office 97 Pro to allow them to install it on this
new OS platform is unfair and outrageous. I would have no reason to upgrade
my office suit other than for the OS that the same manufacturer produced.
Shouldn't MS provide me with a solution??
Carey, I hope you can appreciate my argument above. I am not a MS basher by
a long shot, but a loyal customer. If MS will not help me, then the
Australian Consumer Commission probably will. No doubt US consumer groups
will be in an even more powerful position. Let's hope it doesn't come to that.
Thanks again. I'll keep an eye out for responses.
Cheers,
John

 

[Guest]

Thanks to everyone for replying. Microsoft has offered a solution which
works. It can be found at http://www.nibbleguru.com/probs/119/1775

Thanks again.
John