You receive the "This patch package could not be opened" error message in an Office program (295823)


The information in this article applies to:

  • Microsoft Office Basic Edition 2003
  • Microsoft Office Professional Edition 2003
  • Microsoft Office Small Business Edition 2003
  • Microsoft Office Standard Edition 2003
  • Microsoft Office Students and Teachers Edition 2003
  • Microsoft Office Access 2003
  • Microsoft Office Excel 2003
  • Microsoft Office FrontPage 2003
  • Microsoft Office Outlook 2003
  • Microsoft Office PowerPoint 2003
  • Microsoft Office Publisher 2003
  • Microsoft Office Word 2003
  • Microsoft Office XP Developer
  • Microsoft Office XP Professional
  • Microsoft Office XP Small Business
  • Microsoft Office XP Standard
  • Microsoft Office XP Students and Teachers
  • Microsoft Access 2002
  • Microsoft Excel 2002
  • Microsoft FrontPage 2002
  • Microsoft PowerPoint 2002
  • Microsoft Outlook 2002
  • Microsoft Publisher 2002
  • Microsoft Word 2002
  • Microsoft Office 2000 Developer
  • Microsoft Office 2000 Premium
  • Microsoft Office 2000 Professional
  • Microsoft Office 2000 Small Business
  • Microsoft Office 2000 Standard
  • Microsoft Access 2000
  • Microsoft Excel 2000
  • Microsoft FrontPage 2000
  • Microsoft Outlook 2000
  • Microsoft PowerPoint 2000
  • Microsoft Publisher 2000
  • Microsoft Word 2000
  • Microsoft Works Suite 2005
  • Microsoft Works Suite 2004
  • Microsoft Works Suite 2003
  • Microsoft Works Suite 2001
  • Microsoft Works Suite 2002
  • Microsoft Works Suite 2000
  • Microsoft Works Suite 2006
This article was previously published under Q295823

SYMPTOMS

When you try to install your Microsoft Office program or try to run an Office program for the first time, you may receive an error message. If you are logged on to the computer through the Administrator user account, you may receive the following error message:
Fatal error during installation
If you are logged on to the computer through a standard user account with administrator permissions, you may receive the following error message:
This patch package could not be opened. Contact the application vendor to verify that this is a valid Windows Installer patch package.
You may also receive any of the following error messages:
  • 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.
    Note In this message, Office XP product is the name of the specific Office product that you are using.
  • 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.

CAUSE

This problem may occur if the registry contains Microsoft Windows Installer information from an earlier Office installation.

RESOLUTION

To resolve this issue, run the Windows Installer CleanUp utility to remove the Windows Installer registry settings, and then reinstall Office. To do this, follow these steps:
  1. Download, install, and then run the Windows Installer CleanUp utility to remove the Windows Installer registry settings that are associated with your Office installation. The following file is available for download from the Microsoft Download Center:

    msicuu2.exe

    For more information about how to download Microsoft Support files, click the following article number to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

    119591 How to obtain Microsoft support files from online services

    Microsoft scanned this file for viruses. Microsoft used the most current virus-detection software that was available on the date that the file was posted. The file is stored on security-enhanced servers that help prevent any unauthorized changes to the file. If you are running Windows NT 4.0 or Microsoft Windows 2000, click the following link to download and install the Windows CleanUp utility.
  2. To use the Windows CleanUp utility, follow these steps:
    1. Click Start, point to Programs, and then click Windows Install Clean Up.
    2. Select the program that you want to remove, and then click Remove.
    3. Click OK, and then click Exit.
    For more information about how to download, install, and use the Windows Installer CleanUp utility, click the following article number to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

    290301 Description of the Windows Installer CleanUp Utility

  3. Run Office Setup to reinstall Office.

    Note Because the Windows Installer CleanUp utility deletes Windows Installer-related registry settings and not the Office program files, make sure that you install Office in the same folder where it was originally installed to prevent duplication of files on your hard disk.

MORE INFORMATION

For more information, click the following article number to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

324906 Cannot start an Office program after you install Service Pack 3 for Windows 2000

Modification Type:MinorLast Reviewed:7/27/2006
Keywords:kbtshoot kberrmsg kbprb KB295823
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