"Please wait while windows configures...."

Brand new install of Office 2007...I get a message "Please wait while windows configures Microsoft Office 2007" every time I start Outlook, and it takes aeons to start up, seems to run through an install routine every time. Outlook Connector won't load so I can't access my hotmail...

Similar thing with Excel - a windows pops up that says "stdole32.tlb" with an OK button, then it runs through the install routine.

Access also gives the "please wait...." message, as do Powerpoint and Word.

One Note and Publisher start without a hitch, and Groove crashes on every startup.

Any ideas ? I have tried uninstalling / reinstalling etc, renaming setup.exe and editing the .pip registry entry, none of which worked. Renaming setup.exe worked initially, but then the system re-created the file.

System is Macbook 13" running Windows 7 64bit, MsOffice 2007 fully updated with all patches etc.

I uninstalled using Microsoft FixIt for 2007 AND 2003 (which I had previously) then reinstalled 2007. Still get the same problem. Tried to install Outlook Hotmail Connector and it fails with a message stating "Outlook Hotmail Connector requires Microsoft Outlook 2003, 2007 or 2010". Outlook is there but when I start it goes through the install routine every time...

The odd thing is that I had installed 2007 previously without any issues, but removed it due to frustration with the Excel menu system changes and went back to 2003.

Any ideas ?

OK so I uninstalled Office 2007, rebooted, then installed Office 2003. I started the Office 2003 SP2 pack, and all I get is a constantly repeating "gathering required information...
" progress bar.

When I start Excel is runs through the "please wait while windows configures..." routine, but an interesting difference is that the jump list has returned, whereas with Office 2007 it had disappeared.

I still get the message about stdole32.tlb....I downloaded a copy from the internet but Win 7 won't let me copy it to System32, instead tells me that I need permission from TrustedInstaller to change the file. This is on my own personal Macbook upon which I have installed Windows 7 64b Ultimate retail copy with Apple Boot Camp.

Any ideas ? This nonsense is driving me nuts...I got work to do

When I open a file from Excel's own recents list under the File menu, I don't get the installer routine. However if I double-click an Excel file or hit a file in the jump list, I get the installer...

I just tried System Restore. I selected the oldest restore point (before I installed Office 2007, I think) and it gave me "Incorrect function (0x80070001)" then "catastrophic failure (0x8000FFFF)"

???