Reinstalling MS Office 2007 after Windows Update Lobotomized my PC

[Bill Edwards]

On 25 Nov 2009, a MS software patch was downloaded, with the admonishment to
shutdown in order to install said updates. After doing so and restarting,
the system couldn't locate the config.sys files. Following the prompts, the
PC rebooted back to an earlier version ... the OEM system. Although the
problem occurred due to an MS SW Patch Update, that side of MS insists its
not their problem. So I'll settle for reinstalling MS Office 2007.

All personal data files were not removed, only the Win XP Pro Media Center
OS. MS Office files are in place, but the configuration files don't
recognize the executables. I have located the *.pst files for the Outlook
address book (archive.pst and outlook.pst).

Questions:
1 - If I delete the existing but non-startable MS Office 2007 files prior to
reloading and reinstalling that software, will that in any possible way
delete the *.pst files located in c:documents and settings\HP
administrator\local settings\application data\microsoft\outlook? (The
Windows SW Patch Update wasn't supposed to do anything along those lines,
either.)
2 - If I copy those two *.pst files to a USB drive, delete the
non-executable MS Office 2007 files, and then reinstall MS Office 2007, which
of the two *.pst files do I use to restore the Address Book?

Thanks in advance.

 

[DL]

The pst files contain all outlook data
The outlook.pst is the current data file, the archive data file is just
that, an archive of old data
Copy both files to external media (preferably 2 scources to be safe)

As to your other Q, seems primarily one to do with your o/s ; not sure what
you mean by "rebooted back to an earlier version " you may mean the system
recovered to an earlier date.
If that is the case what are you offered if you run MSUpdate, and select
*only* critical updates?
(PS ensure MSUpdate is only set to install critical updates & NOT driver
updates)
If your system completes the update successfully - *and only if* - then
isert your office cd and run Office Diagnostics

 

[PA Bear [MS-MVP]]

Forwarded to OL General via crosspost for more exposure.

cf. OP's thread in Windows Update forum:
http://social.answers.microsoft.com/Forums/en-US/vistawu/thread/773ff7fe-787a-470e-be64-ac3149baf053

 

[PA Bear [MS-MVP]]

<Emily Litella> Nevermind...

Forwarded to OL General via crosspost for more exposure.

cf. OP's thread in Windows Update forum:
http://social.answers.microsoft.com/Forums/en-US/vistawu/thread/773ff7fe-787a-470e-be64-ac3149baf053

<snip>

 

[PA Bear [MS-MVP]]

<Emily Litella> Nevermind...

Forwarded to OL General via crosspost for more exposure.

cf. OP's thread in Windows Update forum:
http://social.answers.microsoft.com/Forums/en-US/vistawu/thread/773ff7fe-787a-470e-be64-ac3149baf053

<snip>