Microsoft KB Archive/277923

Knowledge Base

OFF2000: Error Message: "The Catalog Cannot Be Displayed" When You Try to Update Office

PSS ID Number: 277923

Article Last Modified on 8/11/2003

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The information in this article applies to:

• Microsoft Office 2000 (Setup)

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This article was previously published under Q277923

IMPORTANT: This article contains information about modifying the registry. Before you modify the registry, make sure to back it up and make sure that you understand how to restore the registry if a problem occurs. For information about how to back up, restore, and edit the registry, click the following article number to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

256986 Description of the Microsoft Windows Registry

SYMPTOMS

When you attempt to update your Office installation with one of the updates available on Microsoft Office Tools on the Web, you may receive the following error message:

Error!
The catalog cannot be displayed.

In order to take advantage of the latest critical and recommended updates, you need to have Office 2000 or an Office 2000 suite product installed on your machine. The Product Updates Catalog contains Office 2000 updates only. For updates of prior versions of Office or other Office Suite products go to the Office Update Home Page, click on the Office product you would like to update, and then click Downloads. For information about Office 2000 and how to upgrade to Office 2000, follow the Upgrade to Office 2000 link.

You receive this message even though a Microsoft Office 2000 family product is installed.

CAUSE

This issue can occur if the InstallRoot key is missing from the following registry path:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Office\9.0\Common

RESOLUTION

WARNING: If you use Registry Editor incorrectly, you may cause serious problems that may require you to reinstall your operating system. Microsoft cannot guarantee that you can solve problems that result from using Registry Editor incorrectly. Use Registry Editor at your own risk.

To resolve this issue, follow these steps:

1. Click Start, point to Run, and then type regedit in the Open box.
2. Locate and select the following key in the registry:
   

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Office\9.0\Common

1. Look for a subkey named InstallRoot.
2. If the InstallRoot subkey does not exist, continue with these steps. If the InstallRoot subkey does exist, STOP here.
3. Select the Common key, point to New on the Edit menu, and then click Key.
4. Select New Key #1, type InstallRoot, and then press ENTER.
5. Select InstallRoot, point to New on the Edit menu, and then click String Value.
6. Select New Value #1, type Path and then press ENTER.
7. Double-click the Path string value.
8. In the Value data box, type the path of your Office folder.
   

Note By default, this path is C:\Program Files\Microsoft Office\Office.

You can verify this path by locating the Excel.exe file or the Winword.exe file on your hard disk.

1. Click OK after you type the full path.
2. Quit Registry Editor.
3. Try again to install one of the Office updates.

Additional Troubleshooting Methods

If the resolution method does not resolve the problem, use the following methods.

Method 1: Turn on Active Scripting Updates in the Browser (Norton Firewall Users Only)

If you have Norton's Internet Security and Personal Firewall installed and enabled, turn on active scripting updates in the browser. See the instructions in the following Norton article. To do this, visit the following Norton Web site: http://service1.symantec.com/SUPPORT/nip.nsf/docid/2000031311301136

Method 2: Clear the Microsoft Internet Explorer Cached Files

To do this, follow these steps:

1. In Control Panel, double-click the Internet Options icon.
2. On the General tab, click Delete Files under Temporary Internet Files.
3. Under History, click Clear History.
4. Click Settings, and then click View Objects.
5. On the View menu, click Details (if it is not already selected).
6. If any of the installed ActiveX controls show a status of damaged, right-click the program file name, and then click Remove. Close the window, and then click OK two times to close the Internet Properties dialog box.
7. Locate your TEMP folder. (It is typically located at C:\Windows). On the Edit menu in Windows Explorer, click Select All. On the File menu, click Delete to empty the TEMP folder.
8. Locate your Cookies folder. (It is typically located at C:\Windows). On the Edit menu, click Select All. On the File menu, click Delete to empty the Cookies folder.

Method 3: Enable Cookies

Follow the steps for your version of Microsoft Internet Explorer.

Internet Explorer 6.0

1. In Control Panel, double-click the Internet Options icon.
2. On the Privacy tab, click Default.
3. Click OK.

Internet Explorer 5.x

1. In Control Panel, double-click the Internet Options icon.
2. On the Privacy tab, click Default.
3. Click OK.

Method 4: Set Security Settings in Internet Explorer to Default Level

1. In Control Panel, double-click the Internet Options icon.
2. On the Security tab, click Internet, and then click Default Level.
3. On the Security tab, click Trusted sites, and then click Default Level.
4. Click OK.

Method 5: Disable Script or Proxy Settings

To do this, follow these steps:

1. In Control Panel, double-click the Internet Options icon.
2. Click the Connections tab, and then click LAN Settings.
3. Click to clear the Use automatic configuration script check box, and then click to clear the Use a proxy server check box.
4. Make sure that the Automatically detect settings check box is selected.
5. Click OK two times to close the Internet Properties dialog box.

Method 6: Restore the Default Settings in Internet Explorer

To do this, follow these steps:

1. In Control Panel, double-click the Internet Options icon.
2. Click the Advanced tab, and then click Restore Defaults.
3. Click Apply, and then click OK to close the Internet Properties dialog box.

Method 6: Clean Boot Windows (Microsoft Windows XP, Microsoft Windows Millennium, Windows 98 Only)

Disable unnecessary startup programs by using the appropriate method for your version of Microsoft Windows. This procedure is known as "clean booting." After you have completed this procedure, test to see if the issue is resolved. If the issue is resolved, consider shutting down unnecessary startup programs before you try to update your Office installation with one of the updates available on Microsoft Office Tools on the Web.

Windows XP:

For additional information about how to perform a clean boot in Windows XP, click the following article number to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

310353 How to Perform a Clean Boot in Windows XP

Windows Millennium Edition

For additional information about how to perform a clean boot in Windows Millennium Edition, click the following article number to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

267288 How to Perform a Clean Boot in Windows Millennium Edition

Windows 98

For additional information about how to perform clean boot troubleshooting for Windows 98, click the following article number to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

192926 How to Perform Clean Boot Troubleshooting for Windows 98

MORE INFORMATION

Microsoft provides third-party contact information to help you find technical support. This contact information may change without notice. Microsoft does not guarantee the accuracy of this third-party contact information. The third-party products that are discussed in this article are manufactured by companies that are independent of Microsoft. Microsoft makes no warranty, implied or otherwise, regarding the performance or reliability of these products.

Additional query words: OFF2000 autoupdate auto update

Keywords: kbprb KB277923
Technology: _IKkbZNotKeyword4 kbOffice2000Search kbOffice2000SetupSearch kbOfficeSearch kbZNotKeyword5 kbZNotKeyword6

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