Solved Side by side configuration incorrect - please help!

[jhwkgirl]

When I try to get into Word/Excel/Powerpoint I get the side by side error. I've tried troubleshooting and following the basic steps in some of the posts here but no luck so far System restore does not work either.

When downloading/installing the VC++ downloads, the second one won't install and I get the error message "the feature you are trying to use is on a network resource that is unavailable" and then "Installation source for this product is not available. Verify that the source exists and that you can access it"

I've got some logs here, I've tried so many things my head starts to spin, but hopefully they can give you an idea of what's going on and what I've done.. I think I've run sfc a time or two now and it looks like everything's fixed there.. but here goes..

 

[TVeblen]

Hello jhwkgirl. Welcome to the forum.

I took a quick look at this issue and found this:
Solved "side by side configuration" problem in Office 2010 - Vista Forums

It seems that it is important to uninstall VC++ completely before trying to install the download or update (see post #6 in that thread).

BTW: Is this Office 2010 we are talking about?

 

[jhwkgirl]

I've tried both the repair and uninstall (when given the option) and no change in the error. I've also done uninstall and then reinstall it.. unless there's another place I have to go to uninstall first?..

And it's Office 2007, thanks for taking a look at this!

 

[TVeblen]

Yeah, from the little bit I've been reading about this problem it seems to be a real bugger to fix. The frustrating thing is there does not seem to be a straight line between cause and effect.

But the common link in the people who posted success is completely uninstalling and reinstalling some combination of VC++ , Microsoft .NET Framework, or both. These uninstalls are being done from Control Panel > Remove a Program.
It would important to restart the computer after the uninstalls and then install the most recent versions.
word 2007 will not open it says the side by side configuration is not - Microsoft Answers
Side by side configuration error - Microsoft Answers

Because you are actually dealing with missing, changed, or corrupted DLLs this can be a needle in haystack thing. Sometimes these kinds of problems require complete OS re-installation - just to save time .

I assume you have tried to do a Restore Point to a time prior to this behavior happening?
No chance you have a disk image backup?

 

[jhwkgirl]

Ok, I completely uninstalled and reinstalled and no luck. When I tried uninstalling, there were three VC++ apps(?) that wouldn't uninstall. Here's the error message, and the other two file paths:

the path 'C:\Users\Cheryl\AppData\Local\Temp\IXP000.TMP\vcredist.msi' cannot be found. Verify that you have access to this location and try again, or try to find the installation packate 'vcredit.msi' in a folder from which you can install the product Microsoft Visual C++ 2005 Redistributable.

C:\Users\Cheryl\AppData\Local\Temp\AVGDownloadManager\packages\65\vcredist.msi

C:\Windows\TEMP\IXP000.TMP\vcredist.msi

Does that help?... If not, I still have the .exe file I used to upgrade from vista to 7 on my computer, would running that again kinda reboot things? Or would I have to do something more drastic? (I also have the .iso file I can burn to a DVD)

 

[TVeblen]

Take a look at this thread here:
Has anyone found out how to install the vcredist.msi file so that the - Microsoft Answers
These folks are trying to get a phone to work, but the principles of the solution are the key.

That exe that upgrades from V to 7 is the nuclear option - it will reinstall W7 and you will need to also reinstall all your programs and any user files on the C: drive, so don't do that unless you are prepared with backups and know what you are getting into.

You can try and repair W7 by running SFC http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/1538-sfc-scannow-command-system-file-checker.html
I didn't mention this before because I'm thinking your problem lies with VC++ and .NET Framework, which I believe are technically separate programs.

Let me see if I can get someone with more experience with these programs to take a look at this.

 

[jhwkgirl]

I could have sworn I replied to this, but I've been busy the last two days.. I uninstalled and reinstalled both the vc++ and net framework stuff and no luck..

I am glad I checked before re-upgrading. When I installed it the first time, I think I backed stuff up, but ended up not needing to.

I've already running SFC, my log is in my first post.. when I try running it again, it says everything is ok, so I assume there's no problem there.

Thanks for all your help!

 

[TVeblen]

Sorry I could not be of more help. But I really don't know what else you can do besides reinstalling those programs and correcting the missing/corrupted DLLs.

I'm even more surprised that 148 people have looked at this thread and no one else has any suggestions for us. Like I said, a real bugger, this one!

 

[fseal]

Uh oh... the key word here may be "upgrade"

If there was an unknown situation in your Vista install with the redistributable packages, the upgrade may have cemented the problem for good. The fact that you can't uninstall them without errors suggests that you may not be able to fix this by hand.

It is virtually always a good idea to install all OSes clean. Upgrades can work, but can carry over or magnify any problems that may have existed in the previous OS install...

 

[jhwkgirl]

Will reinstalling windows 7 help at all then?.. I really need to have access to word and excel And idk if it makes a difference, but it's been well over a year and a half since I upgraded (and thought I had run through everything so it was good to go!)

 

[fseal]

Well if you do a clean install on a formatted hard drive (Which can be done using the upgrade disk) Then it should be fine.

http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/31402-clean-install-upgrade-windows-7-version.html

Before going down that route though, you want to make sure of the procedure and backup all your files and make sure that you have all the upgrade information necessary before starting. It's not trivial, and there is the danger of ending up with no working system at all without more work if something goes wrong But it sounds like you have exhausted a lot of other fixes already... I'd plug away at it a bit more if possible, more net searches, then reserve the reinstall when there's nothing left to try.

I don't normally recommend using CCCleaner as it has the potential to do harm, but in this case, there is the possibility that it may clean out bad registry entries related to the installs of the redistributable packages and the bad uninstall entries for them. Might give that a shot... google CCCleaner.

 

[TVeblen]

If it were me and I was dealing with this issue I would probably do it like this:

(Keep in mind that most program un-installations are not complete until the computer is re-started and the registry is loaded anew)

I would uninstall from Remove Programs every instance of Virtual C I found - and then restart.

I would then uninstall every instance of .NET Framework - and restart the computer.

Then uninstall Office 2007 - - and restart the computer.

I would then run System File Checker to be sure all the OS files are present.

Then re-install Office 2007. Check to be sure it is working. If it is, then restart the computer. Do a System Restore point.

Now re-install any version of VC you need. Check that Office still works. System Restore if good.

Now re-install the .Net packages - offered from Windows Update - One at a time, with a restart between each. And A System Restore Point.

After the .Net packages are installed there will be security updates in WU for them. I would install these one at a time - with a restart between each. Testing Office each time & a System Restore Point.

If at any time in this procedure you find that Office fails again you can then determine what it is that causes the failure and then roll back with System Restore to correct it. You could then ask here what to do about the troublesome install.

If Office will not work after uninstalling and reinstalling then as fseal has said - time to reinstall W7 clean.

 

[jhwkgirl]

OK, tried that and Word never worked I had to reinstall .NET framework before reinstalling MS Office.

System file checker found no problems... I think I will poke around the internet another day or so, but a clean install is looking like the way to go now

 

[TVeblen]

Another idea: If you have or can borrow a Windows 7 install DVD - boot with it in the DVD drive and try a "Repair Installation".

I believe what happens is a Windows OS DLL file gets corrupted. Programs like System File Checker look to see if the file exists, but does not check that the file is correct. Maybe if the Repair Install just overwrites all the files it would work.

 

[jhwkgirl]

Ok, silly question - when I downloaded the Windows 7 .exe file, I also got a .iso file to burn to DVD (just never did, but kept the file), if I burn that to DVD would it be what you're talking about?

I've also found a post where the person mentions being able to get the vc++ files that won't uninstall out the list so I can then reinstall those.. haven't had luck yet, but also haven't had much time to try all he said. ( post by dreamtreater.. just in case it helps someone else!)

 

[TVeblen]

Yes, that iso is most likely the W7 DVD equivalent.

http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/3413-repair-install.html

 

[jhwkgirl]

Ok, that worked! I don't think I've ever been so happy to see Word open, lol.. I was able to get all the VC++ installed using the post I linked, but still wasn't able to get all the .NET Frameworks to download, no matter what I tried.. I did the repair install and once it was done, a box popped up saying .NET framework needed to be repaired, it stayed up for a while, then rebooted, and all is good. Long process, but I'm glad I didn't have to do a clean install.

Thanks so much!

 

[TVeblen]

Way to stay with it! Congrats!