OFF:Setup.stf Written to System Folder Instead of Setup Folder

ID: Q145870

The information in this article applies to:

SYMPTOMS

The Setup file for Microsoft Office, Setup.stf, may be written to the c:\Windows\System folder, rather than to the c:\Msoffice\Setup folder, as expected.


CAUSE

When you install Office to a system that has a missing or corrupted Setup.stf file, the Setup program treats the installation as a first-time installation. If during Setup you select Custom install and select only one component to install, the Setup.stf file is rewritten to c:\Windows\System instead of c:\Msoffice\Setup. Additionally, when you install to a system that has a missing or corrupt Setup.stf file, the Setup program also rewrites the [MS Setup (ACME) Table Files] section in the Win.ini to read: 


   MSOFFICE.EXE@v4.3.0.1027(1033)=C:\windows\system\setup.stf
At this point, the Setup.exe located in the c:\Msoffice\Setup folder is not able to locate the .stf file and you receive an error message such as the following:
Setup is unable to open the data file 'c:\msoffice\setup\setup.stf'
-or-
Processing Top Level Information Failed


WORKAROUND

To work around this problem so you have an accurate Setup.stf file, rename any Setup.stf file associated with Office. Then, comment out the Msoffice.exe line in the Win.ini file. To do this, use the following steps:

  1. Open the Win.ini file in a text editor such as Notepad.


  2. In the Win.ini file, put a semicolon in front of the Msoffice.exe line so it looks like the following text: 
    
   [MS Setup (ACME) Table Files]
   ;MSOFFICE.EXE@v4.3.0.1027(1033)=C:\windows\system\setup.stf


  3. Rerun the Setup program from the original floppy disks, and make the same selections as you did in the original installation.


This should write the Setup.stf file to the proper folder with the proper information.

Additional query words: 


Keywords          : 
Version           : 4.30
Platform          : WINDOWS 
Issue type        :

Last Reviewed: June 1, 1999