RE: I can't automatically check for updates.

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From: Chris Schatte (caschatte_at_msn.com)
Date: 11/21/04 

Date: Sat, 20 Nov 2004 20:25:00 -0800

Dave Jenkins,
Not an answer but a question. On your original installation did you leave
the installer files on your machine? Did you perform a disk cleanup where
these files may have been "cleaned" before you tried checking for updates?

Chris Schatte

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"Dave Jenkins" wrote:

> I was having problems running Outlook, apparently due to a missing
> MAINSP1op.msp file (don't know how that happened, but then, there you
> are...). I ran the Windows Installer Cleanup Utility, and then reinstalled
> Office 2003 Pro. I went to check for updates, but it wouldn't check these,
> saying that there were a number of reasons possible (including missing .msp
> file(s) ).
>
> I knew I wanted to install SP1, so I downloaded it. It wouldn't install
> with a double-click, so issued this command:
>
> msiexec /i <filename> /qb
>
> and it installed OK.
>
> I then installed the Outlook2OneNote PowerToy, and it works OK, too.
>
> BUT: I still can't check for updates. The error screen offers these
> suggetions:
>
> 1. You do not have administrative privileges for this computer.
>
> 2. There is a network problem and the detection catalog used by the Office
> Update site failed to download. Go back to the Downloads home page and try
> running detection again.
>
> 3. Windows Installer patch files (.MSP files) from previously applied
> Office updates are missing from the \Windows\Installer hidden directory on
> your computer. MSP files are stored on your computer after update
> installation completes because they need to be referenced for future update
> operations. If the files are missing you will not be able to apply Office
> updates. You may also be unable to uninstall Office products as a result of
> the same problem. Please contact Microsoft Product Support Services for
> assistance.
>
> 4. You installed Office updates in the past and then upgraded from Windows
> Installer version 1.0 to Windows Installer version 1.1. For more information
> see the KB article Windows Installer May Prompt for Install Source if
> Unavailable.
>
>
> What can I do to find out the exact cause for this? I know that I have
> administrator privileges, so (1) doesn't apply. (2) is unlikely, isn't it?
> (3) sounds like a possibility, and as far as (4) goes, the "file version" of
> the msiexec I used was 3.0nnnn.
>
> So it sounds like (3). However, I have no \Windows\Installer directory on
> my system in which the .msp's could be put, iin any circumstance.
>
> What can I do? Because I installed SP1 "manually" could the .msp files be
> someplace where the Update checker isn't looking? Where?
>
> Please help! The idea of going through life not being able to do automatic
> checks for Office updates is highly unappealing...
> --
> Dave Jenkins

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