OFF97: Error Installing Office 97 SBE on Non-DSP Windows 95

• Microsoft Office 97 Small Business Edition for Windows
• Microsoft Excel 97 for Windows
• Microsoft Word 97 for Windows

SYMPTOMS

When you run the Setup program for either of the following programs included with Microsoft Office 97 Small Business Edition

   Microsoft Excel 97
   Microsoft Word 97

   Small Business Edition Setup
   This version of Office 97 Small Business Edition will load only on
   versions of the operating system which have been preinstalled by the
   PC manufacturer. Contact your PC manufacturer if this product will not
   load on your PC.

   Microsoft Excel 97 Setup was not completed successfully.

   -or-

   Microsoft Word 97 Setup was not completed successfully.

CAUSE

This problem occurs if the following conditions are true:

• You are installing the version of Microsoft Excel 97 or Microsoft Word 97 that is included with the Delivery Service Partner version of Microsoft Office 97 Small Business Edition.

  -and-

• The Delivery Service Partner version of Microsoft Windows 95 has not been preinstalled on your computer by your System Builder.

For more information about the Delivery Service Partner program, see the "More Information" section in this article.

RESOLUTION

The versions of Microsoft Excel 97 and Microsoft Word 97 that are included with the Delivery Service Partner version of Microsoft Office 97 Small Business Edition may be installed only on a computer that is running a Delivery Service Partner version of Microsoft Windows 95 that was preinstalled by your System Builder. If you reformat your hard disk and either install another operating system or reinstall the version of Windows 95 that was included with your computer, you must either obtain a retail version of Microsoft Office 97 Small Business Edition, or have your System Builder preinstall Windows 95 on the computer again.

Contact your System Builder for information about how to obtain a retail version of Microsoft Office 97 Small Business Edition.

STATUS

This behavior is by design of the Setup programs included with the Delivery Service Partner version of Microsoft Office 97 Small Business Edition.

MORE INFORMATION

When you purchase a computer that comes with a preinstalled version of Microsoft Windows 95, one of three different versions of Windows 95 may be installed: retail, OEM, or Delivery Service Partner.

• The retail version of Windows 95 is the same package that you can purchase from any software retailer. This version of Windows 95 is designed to be used on any compatible computer.
• The OEM (Original Equipment Manufacturer) version of Windows 95 is distributed only with new computers. You cannot purchase an OEM version of Windows 95 except with a new computer. Most large computer vendors distribute OEM versions of Windows 95 with their computers.
• The Delivery Service Partner version of Windows 95 is similar to the OEM version of Windows 95 in that it is distributed only with new computers and you cannot purchase a Delivery Service Partner version of Windows 95 except with a new computer. Many smaller computer vendors include a Delivery Service Partner version of Windows 95 on new computers.

When you run the Setup program for the versions of Microsoft Excel 97 and Microsoft Word 97 that are included with the Delivery Service Partner version of Microsoft Office 97 Small Business Edition, the Setup program determines whether the Delivery Service Partner version of Windows 95 is preinstalled on the computer by the vendor. If not, the Setup program does not allow you to continue.

If you reformat your hard disk and install a new operating system, or if you reformat your hard disk and reinstall the version of Windows 95 that was included with the computer, the operating system is no longer preinstalled by the vendor. As a result, the Setup program determines that the Delivery Service Partner version of Windows 95 is not preinstalled on the computer, and you cannot continue. In this case, you must either:

• Obtain a non-Delivery Service Partner version of Microsoft Office 97 Small Business Edition or Microsoft Office 97.

  -or-

• Have the computer vendor re-preinstall Windows 95 on your computer. When the vendor does this, the operating system is preinstalled on the computer.