"Setup is unable to remove earlier version" error message when you try to install Works or Works Suite (816273)


The information in this article applies to:

  • Microsoft Works 8.0
  • Microsoft Works 7.0
  • Microsoft Works Suite 2005
  • Microsoft Works Suite 2004
  • Microsoft Works Suite 2003
  • Microsoft Works Suite 2006

SYMPTOMS

When you try to install Microsoft Works or Microsoft Works Suite, you may receive the following error message:
Setup is unable to remove earlier version.

CAUSE

This issue may occur if an earlier version of Microsoft Works was not completely removed by the installation program.

RESOLUTION

To resolve this issue, follow these steps:
  1. Restart Microsoft Windows in clean boot mode. There is a different clean-boot procedure for each version of Windows. From the following table, select the article that corresponds to your version of Windows, and then follow the instructions about how to clean-boot your computer.

    Operating systemArticle
    Microsoft Windows 98

    281965 How to troubleshoot using the Msconfig utility with Windows 98

    Microsoft Windows Millennium Edition (Me)

    267288 How to perform a clean boot in Windows Millennium Edition

    Microsoft Windows XP

    310353 How to perform a clean boot in Windows XP

    Microsoft Windows 2000

    281770 How to perform clean-boot troubleshooting for Windows 2000

  2. Use the Add or Remove Programs utility to remove all versions of Works from your computer.
    1. Windows XP:
      1. Click Start, and then click Control Panel.
      2. Double-click Add or Remove Programs.
      Windows 98 and Windows Me:
      1. Click Start, point to Settings, and then click Control Panel.
      2. Double-click Add or Remove Programs.
    2. Select any version of Works from the list of installed programs, and then click to remove.
    3. Follow the instructions to remove the version of Works that you selected in step 2b.
    4. Repeat steps a through c to remove the remaining versions of Works.
  3. If the procedures in step 2 trigger an error message, use the appropriate Microsoft Works Cleanup utility to remove each version of Works. Use the following table to determine which utility to use.

    VersionOperating systemUtility
    Works 2000Windows 98 and Windows Millennium Edition (Me)Wks2kll.exe
    Windows 2000 and Windows XPWksw2k.exe
    Works 6.0Windows 98 and Windows Millennium Edition (Me)Wks6.exe
    Windows 2000 and Windows XPWks6w2k.exe
    Works 7.0Windows 98 and Windows Millennium Edition (Me)Wks7rm.exe
    Windows 2000 and Windows XPWks7rmxp.exe
    Works 8.0Windows 98 and Windows Millennium Edition (Me)Wksrm9x.exe
    Works 8.0Windows 2000 and Windows XPWks8xp.exe
    The files are located on the Works CD-ROM (or on CD1 for Works Suite 2003) in the following folder:

    CD:\MSWORKS\PSS

    Note You can also obtain these files from the Microsoft Download Center. To download a file, visit the following Microsoft Web site and type the file name in the Keywords box:

    http://www.microsoft.com/downloads

    For example, to download the Works 6.0 Cleanup Utility for Windows 98 and Windows Millennium Edition (Me), search for WKS6.exe.
  4. When the Works Cleanup utility finishes and you are prompted to restart Windows, click Later.
  5. Install and run the appropriate Windows Installer Cleanup tool.

    For additional 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 Clean Up Utility

  6. Restart your computer normally.
  7. Install the latest version of Works on your computer.
Modification Type:MinorLast Reviewed:1/9/2006
Keywords:kberrmsg kbprb KB816273
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