can't install 3.4.2 on Windows XP

francis.leboutte · August 15, 2011, 11:39am

Hello,

I can't install 3.4.2 on Windows XP because the installer asks for the libreoffice33.msi file that is not present on my PC.

Same thing :
- If I try to uninstall.
- With 3.3.3 version.

I'm using 3.3.2 version (French).

Thank you in advance,
Francis

Dave_Sergeant · August 15, 2011, 11:58am

Maybe you have downloaded the wrong version? I have never had any
problem installing LO (or Open Office) on Windows XP.

Dave

http://www.davesergeant.com

Tom_Davies · August 15, 2011, 12:12pm

Hi
Have you already got, or did you have LibreOffice 3.3.x installed previously?
It's weird that it is asking for the libreoffice33.msi, i would have expected it
to ask for a libreoffice34.msi.

You can install both or lots of different versions include OpenOffice ones but
only by following this guide
http://wiki.documentfoundation.org/Installing_in_parallel

I am not sure how to make sure you have fully removed a program in Windows. I
would look in "Add/Remove Programs" in the Control Panel. ('Start' button -
then just under "All Programs?)

Regards from
Tom

Twayne · August 15, 2011, 4:39pm

In news:4E4909E9.20902.163FB2A@dave.davesergeant.com,
Dave Sergeant <dave@davesergeant.com> typed:

I can't install 3.4.2 on Windows XP because the
installer asks for the libreoffice33.msi file that is
not present on my PC.

Maybe you have downloaded the wrong version? I have never
had any problem installing LO (or Open Office) on Windows
XP.

Dave

http://www.davesergeant.com

I've had a different problem with 3.4.2 installs. Befor the install even
starts, it tells me the installer s missing or corrupted. So I've had to
stick with 3.3.x. Earlier versions all install OK so it's not my machine,
has to be LO.

Win XP Pro SP3 fully updated & virus/malware clean to the best of my
ability.

HTH,

Twayne`

francis.leboutte · August 17, 2011, 8:03am

Le 15/08/2011 14:12, Tom Davies écrivait :

Have you already got, or did you have LibreOffice 3.3.x installed previously?

Yes, as I have told it, version 3.3.3.

I finally arrange to get 3.3.0 and 3.3.3 installers:
- 3.3.0 refuse to install ("A new version of LibreOffice 3.3 was found. To install an older version, the newer version needs to be removed first").
- 3.3.3 installer asks also for the libreoffice33.msi file. Which one I provide, I then get an error ("invalid file").

Finally, I can't uninstall, I can't reinstall, I can't downgrade and I can't upgrade.

Too bad!
Francis

It's weird that it is asking for the libreoffice33.msi, i would have expected it
to ask for a libreoffice34.msi.

You can install both or lots of different versions include OpenOffice ones but
only by following this guide
http://wiki.documentfoundation.org/Installing_in_parallel

I am not sure how to make sure you have fully removed a program in Windows. I
would look in "Add/Remove Programs" in the Control Panel. ('Start' button -
then just under "All Programs?)

Regards from
Tom

Le 15/08/2011 13:09, francis.leboutte@algo.be écrivait :

Tom_Davies · August 17, 2011, 11:58am

Hi
This sounds like a complete nightmare. Have you already got OpenOffice
installed? It shouldn't be affecting things in this way but does cause some
general weirdness.

I don't know why it is happening. Can you file a bug-report about it?
http://wiki.documentfoundation.org/BugReport

Did you download LibreOffice from this site
http://www.libreoffice.org/download
If not then please let us know where. It should be ok but it might be good if
we can check.

If you try reinstalling LibreOffice 3.3.3 then does the first screen give you a
choice of "Repair, Modify or Reinstall"? Any of those options should help get
the .msi thing back in but to be honest i am just hoping that someone more
skilled & knowledgeable, such as Cor, might be able to help with this question.

There is an OpenOffice forum that is worth posting in and there might already be
a thread that gives a good answer in those forums.

http://user.services.openoffice.org/en/forum/
Apols and regards from
Tom

francis.leboutte · August 17, 2011, 1:19pm

Le 17/08/2011 13:58, Tom Davies écrivait :

Hi
This sounds like a complete nightmare. Have you already got OpenOffice
installed? It shouldn't be affecting things in this way but does cause some
general weirdness.

Before to install LibreOffice I have uninstalled it.

I don't know why it is happening. Can you file a bug-report about it?
http://wiki.documentfoundation.org/BugReport

Yes, done.

Did you download LibreOffice from this site
http://www.libreoffice.org/download

Yes.

If not then please let us know where. It should be ok but it might be good if
we can check.
If you try reinstalling LibreOffice 3.3.3 then does the first screen give you a
choice of "Repair, Modify or Reinstall"?

No.

Thank you,
Francis

Tom_Davies · August 20, 2011, 11:59am

Hi
Sorry, does anyone know if this problem been solved yet or are there any ideas
about how to fix it?
Regards from
Tom

planas · August 21, 2011, 1:29am

Hi
Sorry, does anyone know if this problem been solved yet or are there any ideas
about how to fix it?
Regards from
Tom

I remember a thread that recommended a Windows uninstaller that cleaned
up the files and registry better than the default MS installed feature.
But I do not remember what the thread was originally about or the name
of the package. My guess is the registry/uninstaller has gotten messed
up.

LO should install/uninstall without problems on Windows. I have not had
any problems on a Windows 7 work installation.

krackedpress · August 21, 2011, 2:10am

Installed fine on 32-bit XP on a P-III
just did that today.

Brian_Barker · August 21, 2011, 12:01pm

As I understand things - and will any experts out there please correct me? - the .msi file is a database of what needs doing to install a product using Windows Installer. It's needed during installation, of course, but equally during removal of the product. Like many products, LibreOffice evidently checks for previous versions of the product and (unless you make special arrangements) removes previous versions as part of the installation process. To complete this removal, it needs the .msi file for the (older) version being removed. Windows remembers where this was during installation and looks there to find it again during removal. If Windows does not find the appropriate .msi file, it invites the user to browse to it and provide it.

What I suspect products like OpenOffice and LibreOffice should do, but appear not to, is to salt away a copy of the .msi file with the installation itself, so that it will always be available when later needed. (Microsoft's own products, such as Office, appear to do this: the .msi file is tucked away in Program Files and hidden.) Failing that, best practice is to keep your own copy until you remove that version of any product. Indeed, a sensible course of action is first to put any original downloaded file somewhere it can be kept and unpack it there - not on the desktop, then! - before installation. Windows will remember where the relevant files were when you later need to repair, remove, or upgrade the product.

If you have lost the installation files for the older version, a simple way forward is to obtain them again. You may have to hunt around a bit to find the *exact* version you need. Unpack the download to reveal the .msi file and browse to it when asked by the new installation. In case of problems, try installing the older version again first: this will put the older version back into shape and leave everything ready for the new installation. This will still need the older .msi file, of course - so don't move it too soon! This way, you shouldn't need any brute force uninstallers.

I trust this helps.

Brian Barker