windows installer continually tries to open

[Shamymax]

since yesterday the installer has tried to load the STDRET.msi file package
for no apparent reason. A box pops up saying while Windows configures MS
Office XP Standard. It then says that the file is on Office CD and to load
CD. My copy was preloaded. It then give an error message 1706 setup cannot
find file. I cannot find this installer package anywhere on my system, there
are no msi packages waiting. I also turn off windows installer it has no
effect. I even did a system restore to an earlier time, no help. I have never
experienced anything like this. It deactivated my MS Word shortcut. I have
spent 7 to 8 hours trying to fix this and no resolution, please I need help

 

[GreenieLeBrun]

since yesterday the installer has tried to load the STDRET.msi file
package for no apparent reason. A box pops up saying while Windows
configures MS Office XP Standard. It then says that the file is on
Office CD and to load CD. My copy was preloaded. It then give an
error message 1706 setup cannot find file. I cannot find this
installer package anywhere on my system, there are no msi packages
waiting. I also turn off windows installer it has no effect. I even
did a system restore to an earlier time, no help. I have never
experienced anything like this. It deactivated my MS Word shortcut. I
have spent 7 to 8 hours trying to fix this and no resolution, please
I need help

This may help:-

Windows Installer Cleanup Utility
http://windowsxp.mvps.org/MSICLEAN.htm

 

[Shamymax]

Thanks for the info. Before I use the cleanup utility I want to make sure of
one thing. Since my Office XP suite was preloaded and I don't have the CDs,
do I need them to to reinstall or can I just reinstall from Add/Remove folder
using repair? Thanks for any advice

 

[GreenieLeBrun]

Thanks for the info. Before I use the cleanup utility I want to make
sure of one thing. Since my Office XP suite was preloaded and I don't
have the CDs, do I need them to to reinstall or can I just reinstall
from Add/Remove folder using repair? Thanks for any advice

I can't answer that but I would have thought that that Office would have
been included on your restore disks, check the documentation that came with
the computer, BUT before you do anything back up your important data to an
external drive or CD's etc, things can and do go wrong at times.

 

[Shamymax]

Thanks,

I can't answer that but I would have thought that that Office would have
been included on your restore disks, check the documentation that came with
the computer, BUT before you do anything back up your important data to an
external drive or CD's etc, things can and do go wrong at times.

 

[Shamymax]

Just as oddly as it started the problem seemsto have disappeared. I do
remember that I had removed active sync 4.5 from my system and redownloaded
the application but did not run it. That is when the installer went haywire.
Last night I installed the active sync but the problem continued. WHen I
turned on my computer this morning it came up one time but I haven't had a
problem since, ah the sweet mysteries of life. THanks for the posts