Error Message When Opening Office Documents

Every time I try to open a Microsoft Office Standard 2010 document I get the message "Please Wait While Windows Configures Microsoft Office Standard" and it then displays a progress bar as it goes through its machinations. This never used to happen. It started when I foolishly tried to install an outdated program, Microsoft Front Page. I have long since um-installed Front Page, but nevertheless this annoying error message and progress bar still appears every time. Is there any way to repair this?

Thanks for any and all replies!

Tookeri said:

Try a repair of Office from Control Panel - Programs and Features. Choose Repair or Change (not Uninstall)

Thank you I tried that and re-booted the PC, but the problem persists. Most annoying. Any other ideas?

Tookeri said:

Then I suggest you reinstall Office. I found an old thread with a few other suggestions, but only a reinstall solved the problem.

OK I un-installed Office 2010, re-booted, then re-installed Office 2010, and now THE PROBLEM IS WORSE THAN BEFORE. In addition to the first error messge, I am now getting additional error messages, "Error 25531. Failed to open XML File....system error: -2147024786."

Great! Can someone PLEASE tell me how to fix this????

Tookeri said:

Very unfortunate, as a reinstall usually solves problems and not causes new ones. Have you installed all available windows updates for Office? Do you have a standard Office version or a Click-to-run version?

I downloaded, installed, and ran the Windows Installer Cleanup Utility, selected everything related to Microsoft Office, clicked "remove", rebooted, and Voila! problem solved!

Thanks for all who responded!