From Office Watch 28 September 2005 Vol 10 No 34

For the overall details of Office 2003 SP2, check out our last issue. http://office-watch.com/office/archtemplate.asp?v10-n34

GET WINDOWS INSTALLER 3.1 FIRST
Before you get Office 2003 Service Pack 2, make sure you have the latest version of the Windows Installer. This is the overall install and patching technology that Microsoft now relies upon.

Finding the version of Windows Installer isn't obvious. To find it go to Start | Run, type msiexec.exe, and hit OK. A dialog will appear and on the top line is the version number. You're hoping to see "V 3.01 " - any digits after the first two decimal places are not relevant to the current difficulties.

For some unexplained reason what appears in the dialog as version '3.01' is called version '3.1' everywhere else. You're forgiven being confused when Microsoft can't even get their own version numbers straight.
You can get Windows Installer 3.1 (v2) or v 3.1.4000.2435 or V 3.01.4000.2435 (Microsoft uses all three of these labels for the same thing).
from http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/d...displaylang=en

YOU HAVE A BROKEN LIS!
Microsoft is blaming most of the SP2 problems on the Local Installation Source - LIS. This is the cache of Office 2003 installation files kept on your hard drive (usually in the /MSOCache hidden folder) to speed up any repair processes needed. If you do a 'Disk Cleanup' in Windows the LIS appears as 'Office setup files'.

Earlier versions of Office would ask you to insert your product CD in order to fix any small problems. The LIS was an attempt to prevent that step by making the core install files available on the hard drive - if needed Office could access them and fix the problem without bothering you. It also meant that patches could also update the LIS to prevent the problem of a Service Pack being 'downgraded' by installing from earlier versions of your install disk.

Of course, adding the LIS added complications of its own. It's been funny to see some Microsoft staff blame Windows XP for messing up the LIS, presumably they mean the 'Disk Cleanup' option.! Some people delete the Office setup files in an attempt to recover disk space or in a mistaken belief that it's an unwanted remnant of Office 2003 installation.

There is an LIS tool available at http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/d...displaylang=en which lets you disable use of the LIS or relocate it. Disabling the LIS might help you update to SP2, but most people have found this suggested fix unhelpful.

ERROR 80070643
Another SP2 patching problem involves the Office Source Engine (OSE) which is a service that should be available on your computer - but sometimes is disabled or corrupt. Office 2003 starts this service when it is needed.

Go to Start | Run | services.msc and scroll down to Office Source Engine. The Startup Type should be 'Manual' not 'Disabled'.

If it's set to 'Disabled' double-click on the service and change the setting to 'Manual'.

It's also possible that the OSE program file is corrupt - if that's the case (ie if the Office Source Engine service won't start) then follow the instructions at http://office-watch.com/kb?903772

THE UNKNOWLEDGE BASE
You might think the Microsoft Knowledge Base is the logical place to go for information about SP2 updating problems. But no. While one particular problem is listed there, most of what Microsoft support staff are telling individual customers is not up on the KB.

In addition when you download Service Pack 2, there's no link on the Microsoft web pages about SP2 to any list of known installation problems. There is still mention of the Windows Installer 3.0 problem (see below) but nothing else to help customers who might strike a problem.

WHAT ABOUT THE ANTI-PHISHING FEATURE?
At least the Microsoft web site now admits the existence of an anti-phishing feature in Outlook 2003 SP2, which it did not at first.

But details are lacking. There has been no official announcement of what the feature does and how it works. Our specific questions to Microsoft on this topic are unanswered.

We do now know that the feature requires both the SP2 patch AND the latest junk mail filter http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/d...displaylang=en which would explain reports of the new feature not appearing on SP2 patched machines.

THE PSS LINE ABOUT SP2
Here's what Microsoft Product Support has been emailing individual customers. The content of this message has changed a little depending on who sent the message and when but the fundamentals are consistent.

We don't necessarily suggest you follow these steps - but at least it's better than the little on the Microsoft web site. While PSS calls them 'Steps' they are really separate options, try one and if that doesn't work try the next.

The 'fullfile' mentioned in Step 1 is 100MB (what Microsoft calls 'a little large') and that might be too large for anyone without a decent broadband connection (even with broadband, it might be a significant part of your monthly MB allowance). If that's the case you might want to try 'Step 2' or 'Step 3' before 'Step 1'. On the other hand, using the 100MB download does seem the most reliable way to update SP2.

"Step 4" is the LIS option and presumably it works for some people but none of the Office Watch readers who have tried it reported any success.

Step 1: Manually install updates
Download the fullfile SP2 (Office2003SP2-kb887616-fullfile-enu.exe) to you computer and install it from your computer:

Office 2003 Service Pack 2
http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/d...displaylang=en

If the issue persists, please go to the step 2:

Step 2: Repair Office 2003
2. In Control Panel, double-click the Add or Remove Programs icon.
3. In the Currently installed programs list, click to select Microsoft Office 2003 product. Click Change.
4. In the Maintenance Mode Options dialog box, select "Reinstall or Repair", and then click Next.
5. Click to select "Detect and Repair errors in my Office installation" and the click "Install" button.

Is the issue resolved? If not, please go to the step 3:

Step 3: Refer to KB article
903772 You receive an "Error 80070643" error message when you try to update
http://support.microsoft.com/?id=903772

If the issue persists, please go to the step 4:

Step 4: Disable Local Installation Source
1. Download the Local Installation Source Tool from:
http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/d...displaylang=en
2. Extract LisTool.exe and LisTool.chm to some location.
3. Run the GUI tool (LISTOOL.exe) and choose the Disable LIS option. Click next.
Select all the check boxes in the subsequent dialog. Then proceed to Finish.
4. Check and install Office updates again.