I am no longer able to update Office XP. Update stops scanning at 40 % and the error page states, among less probable possibilities that I may be missing .msp files from previous updates. If I attempt to download an update indirectly and install it, I get a stop that says that OHotfix has encountered a problem. I can not update, repair, or uninstall Office. Safe Mode is no help either. What files SHOULD be in the OfficeUpdate folder....I now have 2 such folders...and exactly what registery entries, if any, do I need to remove to prevent the update from looking for msp files that don't....or no longer...exist? I would appreciate any suggestions. Thanks, Joycie

You can try to re-install Office on into the same directory. I am looking into getting it cleared from your registry, I need to do some homework on that. But try the reinstall. :D bob

Bob Several users have posted to Microsoft's Office Update News Group with the same issue...after the Sept 3 security update became available. It must not be an isolated problem...? I get the "This patch package could not be opened."etc error message when I try to reinstall Office. Joycie

THIS IS MY ORIGINAL POST/PROBLEM THANKS TO bill.barrett@hp.com, I WAS ABLE TO OVERCOME THE FOLLOWING: When I check for Office XP updates, I get the following alert: "Internet Explorer could not open the Internet Site http://office.microsoft.com/home/office.aspx? assetid=FX010404541033" The Scan activity bar only reaches 40%. I do have administrative privileges and there is no problem with my Internet connection. I then go to the Office Download Catalog and download the updates. When the computer tries to install the updates, a Report Error Dialog Box comes up. The updates will not install I tried to remove Office XP, or repair Office XP, or reinstall Office XP, I get the following Alert: "This patch package could not be opened. Verify that the patch package exists and that you can access it, or contact the application vendor to verify that this is a valid Windows Installer patch package." I have used Check Disk, Norton System works, system restore, and Windows XP Repair, to no avail. I am trying to avoid completing reformatting my hard drive. Please help me. I have a Dell Dimension 4500. It came with Office XP Small Business Edition installed. I have applied all of the Windows XP critical updates, that applies to my system. I have called Dell and they cannot help me. Thank You THE "FIX" I just got off the phone with Microsoft to fix these same problems described above. They had me first delete all keys called "patches". Regedit procedure was to make a backup copy of the registry then use Find "Keys" (Values and Data deselected), "Match whole string only" for "Patches". I deleted each instance (I think there were three). I then was able to go into the Office Update site and it would recognize the need for 5 patches. It downloaded them and installed but the installation failed. The MS tech said "that was normal because I already had those patches installed." I reran Office Update and it said I still needed those five patches. The MS tech said just ignore those five patches and I would have to live with it. I then went into Add/Remove and was able now to remove MS Office completely. I reinstalled from the CD successfully and was able to load SP1, SP2 and then the five troublesome patches successfully. THANK BILL BARRETT FOR THE FIX "THANKS BILL" Bill S.

This works. Thank you.