Missing .msp Files

When I attempt to update Office 2000 Premium SP-3, I get
the error message that .msp files may be missing from
Windows\Installer files. I want to remove some Office
programs, but I cannot access the Uninstall features for
the same reason. How can I correct this?

From: (vishal subramaniam (msft))
Subject: office pro will not reinstall on new computer
Newsgroups: microsoft.public.office.setup



ISSUE:
=======
When I attempt to update Office 2000 Premium SP-3, I get
the error message that .msp files may be missing from
Windows\Installer files. I want to remove some Office
programs, but I cannot access the Uninstall features for
the same reason. How can I correct this?

RESOLUTION
==============
PRB: Windows System Restore Does Not Monitor Windows Installer Patch (.msp)
Files
View products that this article applies to.
SYMPTOMS
When you try to restore your computer running Windows XP to a restoration
point before you applied a patch or service pack, the application that you
applied the patch to may reach an unusable state. When you try to repair,
install, reinstall, or remove the application, you may receive the
following error message:

"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."
CAUSE
This problem occurs because Windows XP System Restore does not monitor the
Windows Installer Patch (.msp) files. When you install the patch files, the
cached patch is not restored in the Windows Folder\Installer folder. Also,
Service Pack 2 (SP2) is cumulative. It contains the previous Quick Fix
Engineering (QFE) files. After you install SP2, the individual QFEs that
you installed become obsolete. Windows Installer removes the configuration
data for the QFE patches including the registry keys.

Because the cached patch is missing when you use System Restore, Windows
Installer tries to cache the patch again from the patch's registered source
location. However, the registered source location for many application
patches is the Temp folder. This folder is a transient source location.
Typically, the files in the Temp folder are deleted after you use them.
Therefore, the files that Windows Installer tries to locate in the
transient source location may not be found. The error occurs because
Windows Installer cannot locate the Windows Installer Patch (.msp) files.
RESOLUTION
To work around this problem, reapply the patches that are missing. If the
patch location is a network or media share that is available, you may be
able to locate and to apply the patch from there. You can also install the
latest Service Pack patch for the application because the latest service
pack contains the previous QFEs. The cumulative patch applies the missing
patches to the application and makes the individual missing patches
obsolete.
STATUS
This behavior is by design.
MORE INFORMATION
Steps to Reproduce the Behavior
Install an application (for example, Office XP) on your computer. By
default, a restoration point is created. This restoration point stores the
state of your system before you install of the new application.

Note When you install a new application, the operating system automatically
creates a restoration point.
Install a service pack for the application that you installed in step 1.
For example, install Service Pack 1 for Office XP.
Install some Quick Fix Engineering (QFE) patches for the application. For
example, install two QFE for Office XP.
Create a restore point.

Steps to Create a Restore Point on Windows XP
Click Start, point to Programs, point to Accessories, point to System
Tools, and then click System Restore.
Click to select Create a restore point, and then click Next.
Type Before SP2 Restoration Point in the Restore point description textbox.
Click Create.
Install Service Pack 2 for the application. For example, install SP2 for
Office XP.
Note SP2 contains the previous QFEs. This step makes the individual QFEs
that you installed in step 3 obsolete. Windows Installer removes the
configuration data for the QFE patches including the registry keys and the
cached files.
Verify that the source files for the service packs and the QFEs are not
accessible through your computer. For example, remove the network share for
the QFE.
Restore the system to the state that existed before you installed Service
Pack 2.

Steps to Restore the System on Windows XP
Click Start, point to Programs, point to Accessories, point to System
Tools, and then click System Restore.
Click to select Restore my computer to an earlier time, and then click
Next.
Select the date that you performed step 4, and then select Before SP2
Restoration Point from the list of restoration points.
Click Next.
Try to repair or remove the application, or try to install the application
again. You may receive the error message as mentioned in the "Symptoms"
section.

LINKS:
==========
http://support.microsoft.com/default...b;en-us;814833
hth
This posting is provided "AS IS" with no warranties, and confers no rights.