OFF: Setup Cannot Locate the Program Files Folder

ID: Q164808

The information in this article applies to:

IMPORTANT: This article contains information about editing the registry. Before you edit the registry, you should first make a backup copy of the registry files (System.dat and User.dat). Both are hidden files in the Windows folder.

SYMPTOMS

When you run the Microsoft Office Setup program, the Setup program may fail to identify the Program Files folder on your computer. The Setup program may then attempt to install certain Microsoft Office components (see the "More Information" section) in a folder other than the Program Files folder.

NOTE: This behavior occurs regardless of the type of installation (Typical, Custom, and so on) you perform.


CAUSE

The Microsoft Office Setup program determines the location of the Program Files and Common Files folders by checking the following registry keys: 


   HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\ 
      ProgramFilesDir

   HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\ 
      CommonFilesDir

If these keys contain an incorrect drive letter or path information, Microsoft Office Setup may be unable to install files in the existing Program Files folder.


RESOLUTION

WARNING: Using Registry Editor incorrectly can cause serious problems that may require you to reinstall Windows 95. Microsoft cannot guarantee that problems resulting from the incorrect use of Registry Editor can be solved. Use Registry Editor at your own risk.

For information about how to edit the registry, view the Changing Keys And Values online Help topic in Registry Editor (Regedit.exe). Note that you should make a backup copy of the registry files (System.dat and User.dat) before you edit the registry.

For the Microsoft Office Setup program to detect the path to the Program Files folder, you must correct the path in the registry keys. To do this, use the following steps:

  1. On the Start menu, click Run.


  2. In the Open box, type regedit and click OK.


  3. Double-click the plus sign (+) to the left of the following items in order 
    
      HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE
      SOFTWARE
      Microsoft
      Windows
      CurrentVersion

    to open the following registry key: 
    
      HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion


  4. In the value pane, note the value to the right of ProgramFilesDir. If the folder name does not exist on your hard disk, proceed to step 5. Otherwise, skip step 5.


  5. Click ProgramFilesDir. On the Edit menu, click Modify. In the Value Data box, type the correct path to the Program Files folder (for example, C:\Programs). Then, click OK.


  6. In the value pane, look at the value to the right of CommonFilesDir. If the folder name does not exist on your hard disk, proceed to step 7. Otherwise, skip step 7.


  7. Click CommonFilesDir. On the Edit menu, click Modify. In the Value Data box, type the correct path to the Common Files folder (for example, C:\Common). Then, click OK.


  8. On the Registry menu, click Exit.



MORE INFORMATION

Microsoft Office 97

The Microsoft Office 97 components that are automatically installed in the Program Files folder are the following:

Microsoft Excel:
Microsoft Map
Microsoft Word:
Help
Proofing Tools
Text Converters
Microsoft Powerpoint:
Help
Data Access:
Data Access Objects for Visual Basic
Office Tools:
Spelling Checker
Organizational Chart
Equation Editor
Microsoft Photo Editor
MS Info
Clip Gallery
Find All Word Forms
Converters and Filters:
Text Converters
Graphics Filters

Microsoft Office 95

The Microsoft Office 95 components that are automatically installed in the Program Files folder are the following:

Microsoft Excel:
Help for Visual Basic
Microsoft Map
Microsoft Word:
Hyphenation
Grammar
Thesaurus
Lotus 1-2-3 Converter
Text with Layout Converter
Office Tools:
Spelling Checker
WordArt
Organizational Chart
Microsoft Graph version 5.0
Microsoft Graph version 5.0 Help
Equation Editor
MS Info
Clip Art Gallery
Find All Word Forms
Converters, Filters and Data Access:
Converters
Filters
Microsoft Query
Data Access Objects for Visual Basic
Help for Data Access Objects


REFERENCES

For more information, please see the following article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

Q157030 OFF97: Change Directory Unavailable for Office Tools

Additional query words: OFF97 


Keywords          : offwinsetup 
Version           : WINDOWS:7.0,7.0a,97
Platform          : WINDOWS 
Issue type        : kbhowto

Last Reviewed: April 28, 1999