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How do I fix this problem uninstalling Microsoft Office 2010 (Beta)?

Question:

I tried to install Microsoft Office 2010 (Beta), for some reason it failed,
it said that it rolled out the installation, but I can see the software on my
hard drive, when I try to remove it with uninstaller it denies the access to
it. Also, when I start Word document by clicking on .doc document it gives me
an error as follows: “Click-2-Run Application Manager: Click-2-Run
configuration failure”

How can I fix this?

I don’t know.

But the reason I’m addressing this question is that it’s an important and
cautionary tale. There’s a reason things are called “Beta”.

OK, I do have one simple answer that will indeed fix the problem, but since
you’re asking and not already doing it, you probably can’t take the steps I’ll
recommend.

I have another answer that promises hope, but I’m guessing that’s not
available to you either.

And finally, I do have a few straws to grasp at, as well as a last
resort.

]]>

The very short answer to your question is this:

Restore to the full backup you took before installing Beta software.

If you didn’t take a full backup (as you probably should have), then I’m not aware of a solution to the problem.

“By using Beta software you are implicitly accepting this risk: that the software will have possibly serious bugs.”

The other answer is that if you’re actually part of the official Beta program for Microsoft Office then in addition to the Beta software you were also likely given access to Beta support – usually in the form of some private forums or other resources specifically for people in the Beta program.

If this is a common problem, then the others in the Beta program may have a solution for you.

Of course, as part of a formal Beta program, that solution is typically “Restore to the full backup you took before installing Beta software.”

I understand that since you’re asking me and not in some Beta program support, that you probably didn’t take a full back up, and that none of this helps you. I’m actually sorry about that, but to be honest, it’s the exact risk you were warned about when installing Beta software, and the exact risk you accepted by installing Beta software.

Beta software is software that’s not finished. It has bugs – often many, sometimes crippling bugs. The Beta program is all about testing the software. Knowing that it has problems, and being clear that the program is not finished, a beta program enlists typical users to test the software and report issues that they encounter with it.

By using Beta software you are implicitly accepting this risk: that the software will have possibly serious bugs. In fact, the bugs it has may be so severe as to wipe out your hard disk.

Or simply not successfully uninstall.

In your shoes, I would investigate some of the official and unofficial forums that have appeared specifically for the Office 2010 Beta. The Microsoft forum is here. If you search for “Office 2010 beta Forum” you’ll find several others as well.

If no answers are forthcoming, I’d consider trying something like Revo Uninstaller, followed by a re-install of your previous version of Office.

And when all else fails, a repair install of Windows, or a complete reformat and reinstall might be called for. (I’m honestly not sure if your situation warrants such drastic actions, but it’s the one sure way to resolve the issue. And some problems with Beta software actually do result in this being the only solution.)

Unfortunately, the meaning of Beta has been diluted by Google keeping so many of it’s live products labeled as Beta for so long. That’s done the industry a grave disservice, in my opinion, as many people don’t realize exactly what they’re setting themselves up for when they install Beta software.

Needless to say, I strongly advise against it, in general, and then only of you’re prepared for – however unlikely – potentially disastrous results. That preparation, as you might guess by now, includes a good backup that you can revert to.

Do this

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13 comments on “How do I fix this problem uninstalling Microsoft Office 2010 (Beta)?”

  1. There is a program Called “Windows Cleanup Wizard” that is able to clear programs like these in which their UNinstallers are not function correctly, you can download from Microsoft’s Web.

    Reply
  2. I had a similar problem with Office 2007 Beta. The uninstaller showed several uninstallable modules but the uninstall wouldn’t remove them. Eventually I found a website that showed how to remove each module individually. It was tedious but it worked. If at you don’t succeed keep Googling until you do.
    I stopped installing Betas after that.

    Reply
  3. Hi Leo,

    I click on change the way users long on or off and then I click on welcome screen. I restart my computer I log on into my new account call tony, I lost my administrator account then I go to restart again and go to safe move then I remove my account call tony. Then the next day I turn on my computer and turn it into normal window. I need to type in my password for my administrator. I saw the name tony that was my old account name but i remove it already i need to change the name tony to administrator to log on. Can you tell me the way when I open my computer the name is administrator instead of tony. Thankyou for your assistance.

    Reply
  4. Some of the software I have used (and updated) for some years now, is still “Beta”.
    By keeping their software as a Beta release, companies avoid having to be responsible for their own code screw-ups – this effectively removes ANY rights you may think you have regarding damage caused to your PC, and even if their software is fit for purpose.
    It is a legal loop-hole that companies have exploited for far too long.

    I’m sure that’s true for many companies. Microsoft appears to do it right, though, by ending and putting time limits on Beta versions of their software. I think the appeal is that Beta software like this is often distributed without monetary cost – the only cost is in the carnage it can create on your machine.

    Leo
    08-Jan-2010

    Reply
  5. I recently bought a Lenovo laptop with Windows 7 that came with the trial version of office 2007. Since it would not accept the key code for the version I had bought I had to uninstall it. In Add/Remove programs there are three programs that need to ne uninstalled. One is Office itself. Near the top of the list is the 2007 Office Activation program. There is a third. Now that it is gone I cannot remember the name but it is in the M section and references Office 2007. I believe it is some sort of library program. After uninstalling these three programs, I ran the Office uninstaller from the Microsoft site and it found nothing. I had downloaded Revo Uninstalled but did not need it. After uninstalling and re-installing a program like Office, it is a good idea to run a good register cleaner.

    Reply
  6. I had problems when I attempted to upgrade Internet Explorer 8 from the Beta version to the final version. For some unknown reason when I attempted upgrade IE, it knocked my CD/DVD-ROM device offline. I couldn’t see it in Windows Explorer or Device Manager. Initially I thought that the device itself had failed and I replaced it with a $26.00 DVDR/CDR-ROM (cheap upgrade!) but the problem persisted.

    I finally hit on the idea to use a restore point in System Restore to jump back a few days before the problem presented itself. The restore point I used was labeled “Install Internet Explorer 8” or something similar.

    After the restart my optical device was back in business. From now on System Restore is my go-to solution for vexing OS technical problems.

    Reply
  7. This is for Mark Jacobs
    I don’t have this problem but I am wondering why if you found a solution although ‘tedious’ you wouldn’t supply a link to what you found.

    Reply
  8. I use Revo Uninstaller. This nifty free download
    works for me.
    Ultimately, you might have to edit your registry and delete all referece to Microsoft Office 2010.
    CAUTION is advised any time you muck around with >regedit

    Reply
  9. Click-2-Run is the Application Virtualization (App-V) streaming version of Office 2010. It was put out there so people could install it along side Office 2007, etc. without affecting their computer. It installs in an App-V bubble and not the traditional registry settings. (traditional un-install software may not see it to remove it) Look in installed apps and remove Click-2-Run apps and it should remove the entire app. Go to http://us20.office2010beta.microsoft.com/product.aspx?sku=10199928&culture=en-US to get the Click-2-Run version or http://us20.office2010beta.microsoft.com/product.aspx?sku=10199914&culture=en-US for the traditional install.

    Reply
  10. Since this article comes up high in google results but merely offers slightly arrogant lecturing rather than a solution, I thought I would offer a solution to those who end up here. As mentioned in this thread on a microsoft forum Microsoft has a tool out there that can find and remove broken installations. It worked like a charm for me and can be found here: http://c2r.microsoft.com/tools/cleanc2r.zip

    (one remark: the office 2010 beta was out quite a long time before the final version was released and so a lot of people (including myself – I know what I am getting myself into when installing beta software and I am happy to take some risk) have been using it for quite some time. So reverting back to a full backup from half a year ago would not only “solve” the problem (which would be a desired outcome) but also undo a lot of changes to the computer that I would not like to be undone. Thus, restoring a backup is not a great solution especially if there a quite a few methods out there to actually FIX the problem)

    Reply
  11. Shockingly USELESS and preachy.
    I can’t uninstall BETA, can you HELP?

    Preachy as it is, it’s an important message for everyone to hear so as to avoid exactly the situation you find yourself in. To tbe best of my knowledge your options include a) some of the links mentioned in comments prior to yours, b) restoring your system from its most recent backup, c) reinstalling your system from scratch.

    Leo
    24-Nov-2010

    Reply

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