How to get missing PROPLUS.msi when I don't have access to a disk

[Missing PROPLUS.msi]

When I try to open Excel (all the other Microsoft programs open fine), I get
a Windows Installer box titled "Microsoft Office XP Professional with
FrontPage" that says, "Preparing to install ..." Then a box pops up that
says, "Please wait while Windows configures Microsoft Office XP Professional
with FrontPage". And finally a box appears saying, "The feature you are
trying to use is on a network resource that is unavailable", and below that,
"Click OK to try again, or enter an alternate path to a folder containing the
installation package 'PROPLUS.MSI' in the box below." I am given the options
OK, Cancel, and Browse. When I click Cancel, I get "Error 1706. Setup cannot
find the required files. Check your connection to the network or CD-ROM
drive. ..."

It has been a few months since I have used Excel, but I never had any
problem with it before. I don't know if it has been corrupted through the
regular Windows updates that I download and install every time I am prompted.
Could someone please help me fix this? I have no installation disks, as
this software came on the computer when it was bought new (many years ago),
but it is a legal, registered copy.

Thanks in advance for any help you can offer.

 

[Bob I]

You will need to find/acquire a CD, why oh why, do people insist on
believing otherwise?

 

[Missing PROPLUS.msi]

Thanks for your answer, Bob, but I don't insist on anything. This is the
first time I have had such a problem, and the first time I have sought help
in a forum like this. How, oh how, was I supposed to know??

So where does one go to acquire a Microsoft Office XP Professional with
FrontPage CD? This is an old program, with applications from 2002.

This sounds to me like some Microsoft horror stories I have heard ... their
stuff messes up and you have to spend hours and days on their expensive tech
support, only to be given the solution to buy the latest version of their
same stuff. I guarantee you, if I can't find another solution, I will not
give Microsoft one dime to fix this problem, which apparently was caused by
their own operating system updates. I will instead remove their software
from my system and use only open source code programs.

Thank you for your help.

 

[Bob I]

If you know someone with the Microsoft Office XP Professional with
FrontPage CD, ask them to duplicate it for you. Your license isn't tied
to the CD and any copy of the CD of that particular version will work.
If you don't know someone then the next best is perusing eBay or Craigs
list for someone getting rid of that version. There is no reason to pay
Microsoft for assistance on this issue. Microsoft can't assist you in
this as the Office XP versions have been long out of print and past end
of life support. In addition to that it sounds like what you have is an
OEM version which means that the vendor you bought it from is the one
responsible for the support and Microsoft isn't in the picture in that
case at all. What it boils down to is, that you bought it on the cheap
and neglected to follow up. The horror stories rarely give you the whole
set of facts about what really happened nor is the consumer in those
cases willing to take responsibility for basic common sense items. You
are free to do with your PC as you wish. And barring getting a copy of
that CD, there isn't much anyone can do about fixing the installation. I
wish you luck in your search.

 

[Gord Dibben]

Why do you feel MS is responsible?

Your installation of MS Office XP was done by your seller who provided no
CD's or Cab files for recovering from any errors.

I have personally not experienced any MS updates that required a repair of
any MS Office installation from 97 through 2003


Gord Dibben MS Excel MVP