Recover from Microsoft Office Setup Error

Observations

When you try installing Microsoft Office or run the program for the first time, you receive the following error messages:

• Fatal error during installation
  
  
• This patch package could not be opened. Contact the application vendor to verify that this is a valid Windows Installer patch package
  
  
• The feature you are trying to use is on a CD-ROM or other removable disk that is not available. Insert the Office XP product disk and click OK
  
  
• This patch package could not be opened. Contact the application vendor to verify that this is a valid Windows Installer patch package
  
  
• The installation source for the product in not available. Verify that the source exists and that you can access it
  
  
• This patch package could not be opened. Verify that the patch package exists and that you can access it, or contact the application vendor to verify that this is a valid Windows Installer patch package

Possible Causes

This is a result of a registry conflict when it contains previous Microsoft Windows Installer information from an earlier Office installation.

Resolution

You can resolve the issue by running the Windows Installer CleanUp utility to remove the Windows Installer registry settings, and then reinstall Office.

To do this, follow these steps:

1. Download the Windows Installer CleanUp utility from Microsoft
   
   
2. Execute the program
   
   
3. To use the Windows CleanUp utility, follow these steps:
   
   
   • Click Start, select Programs, and then select Windows Install Clean Up
     
     
   • Select the program that you want to remove, and then click Remove
     
     
   • Click OK, and then click Exit
     
     
   • Run Office Setup to reinstall Office