Every time I try to open an Excel file, windows installer comes up. Then the whole computer slows down and I can't close the windows installer. I do not have a Windows Disc to install the Office again. I use XP. Please help.

Found this:

"One of the most annoying Windows problems involves the Windows Installer, a program that Windows uses to install, repair, or remove Microsoft software according to instructions included in the software's MSI files. Many Office users complain that Windows Installer appears each time they start Word, Excel, Outlook, or another Office program and asks for the Microsoft Office installation CD.

One way to fix the problem is to reinstall Microsoft Office, and when you do, don't select the This Feature Will Be Installed When Required option for any of the components. Although it's possible this will remedy the problem, Windows Installer might still ask for the installation CD even if you instructed it not to by following these instructions. In this case, you can take another route to try to stop the Windows Installer.

1. Open the Start menu, click run, type gpedit.msc in the Open field, and click OK.

2. In the Group Policy dialog box, navigate to LOCAL COMPUTER POLICY\COMPUTER CONFIGURATION\ADMINISTRATIVE TEMPLATES\WINDOWS COMPONENTS\WINDOWS INSTALLER. (If Windows cannot find the Group Policy Editor, return to the Run dialog box, type mmc.exe in the Open box, and click OK. In the Console dialog box, open the File menu, click Add/Remove Snap-in, and then click the Add button in the dialog box that appears. Double-click the Group Policy Snap-in and click the Finish button in the Group Policy wizard. Click the Close button and then click OK.)

3. Double-click Disable Windows Installer in the right pane

4. Select the Enabled radio button

5. Choose Always from the Disable Windows Installer pull-down menu.

6. Click OK.

This will disable the Windows Installer, so if any programs you try to install in the future return an error, you'll need to use the same process to enable the Installer.


Under the Option tab in the Customize dialog box (Office XP and 2003), select Always Show Full Menus to show Office menus without a delay or having to click an arrow."