Error at start up

[Michele]

Created new profile MS Windows XP. Started Outlook 2003 and received error
"failed to start correctly last time. Start in safe mode". Clicked yes to
safe mode and got second error "failed to open due to installation problem.
Reinstall". Thing is: under another profile name Outlook opens just fine. No
errors. Operates fine. Created a third profile MS Windows XP and got same
errors. Ran several command switches with same result: failed to open due to
installation problem." Wizard can't find software; no disk to insert.

Question: why would Outlook work fine under one profile and call for
installation under a second, or third?

 

[neo]

Anytime a new user logs onto a Windows XP box and starts an Office
application, the installer is going to kick off to add some things to the
"user" portion of the registry. This is just part of the self-healing
properties of any application that installs via the Windows Installer
technology.

As for your problem, there is/was a problem in regards to Windows XP/Office
2003 that installation files would end up removed over a period of time. If
memory serves me right, I believe this was due to the 60 day desktop cleanup
wizard but I am having difficulty locating the info on it.

Other than that, the best bet is to uninstall/reinstall Office 2003. After
you uninstall Office 2003, make sure that the MSOCache folder (it is a
hidden folder at the root of one of your local hard drives [e.g.
c:\msocache]) is removed. If you still see it listed, it means you have
other applications installed that use the shared components of Office (e.g.
Visio) will also need to be uninstalled. Once that folder is gone, just
reinstall your Office productivity apps and patch away.