We've had several calls recently about an error in Office XP on Windows 2000 machines. It seems that XP doesn't pre-install some of its extras, such as templates, page borders, and so on. When trying to install these niceties, XP is giving users an error, saying it couldn't find the files, and they couldn't be installed.

The solution:

1) Log in to your computer as administrator.
(Remember to change 'Log onto' from IASTATE to (this computer)
2) Run Word, Excel, or whatever program was giving you the error.
3) Use the page border, template, whatever. that gave you the original error. XP will now install it.
4) Log out of the computer as administrator, and log back in as yourself.

Whatever you were wanting to use will now be installed, and will work properly.

Here's how you can check:

On the lower right-hand corner of your screen, you should see (among other icons) a V-Shield (a shield with a 'V' on it) and a magnifying glass. Right-click (click with the right mouse button) and select 'About' from the menu.

If the 'Created on' date is more than a week or two old, you need to update your virus scanner and set (or reset) an auto-update schedule.

If you don't see a V-shield or a magnifying glass icon you defintely need to reinstall your anti-virus software and make sure that it is running and updating regularly.

Detailed instructions can be found at:

Viruses and Anti-virus software on the
ISU Extension Information Technology web page.