How to completely remove MS Office 2007?

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How to completely remove MS Office 2007 from my system? I’m using Win7 Home Premium (32 bits).
I think I did it the right way: I did the removal using the Control Panel, and then I used the appropriate Microsoft tool “Fix It” to completely remove leftovers from the Registry.
What was my surprise after re-installing Office? The appearance was the same of the previous installation; all my macros were waiting for me, etc ….
In other words, it was not completely removed.
What did I do wrong?
Any help is welcome.

Regards,
Flores

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Hi Flores, as its an MS application, their might be an uninstall file for it in start menu All Programs. If not Download http://revo-uninstaller-portable.en.softonic.com/ and follow its instructions, using default settings.

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http://revo-uninstaller-portable.en.softonic.com/%5B/url%5D and follow its instructions, using default settings.

Hi Roderunner,

I’ve tried the removal of Office using the Control Panel, because it does it automatically, but then I have to look for the leftovers as Ted mentioned on his answer above.
I will try the Revo uninstaller you mentioned.
Thanks for your help.

Cheers,
Flores

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There is a free utility called “RipOutOffice2007”. You can download it as a zipfile that contains one executable. I have used it once to do what it says it will do: rip out Word 2007 completely, and it did. Just Google with its own name. Before using the utility I imaged my C drive just in case, but all went well.

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OK Bob you brought it up and I went to the nitro page and it looks awesome. However I went to their help pages and a lot of folks are having issues. I only wanted to see if my foxit free reader files would convert if I used Nitro as my default reader, because like you said I like the create pdf functions as well as the many more I read on the website. I usually am the tech for others and most of the folks who have issues I find are usually self caused.
I have two Dell XP laptops that are like new, and two Win 7 high end machines in my home office for personal use and will try it first on one of the XP platforms as the two desktops are specialized one for heavy defense and securoity and banking, the other is my day to day for forums and comm.

So assuming I am running clean machines and have technical expertise, would you mind commenting on what of any things I need to look out for before I start testing here? Any issues converting FoxIt converted pdfs? Any problems making a pdf from an Office 2010 word file? Office 2003 Pro Word file? Office 2000 Word file?
Thanks.

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Quite often when you uninstall an app, the customizations and data are left behind because the app developer assumes you will be reinstalling the app or an upgraded app. I am not sure where Office saves it’s customizations and macros, but obviously that folder was saved for use during the assumed reinstall. This articlemay provide some answers to that location.

An excerpt from another article:

If you used the macro recorder, the macros were probably stored in the Normal.dotm template. When you start a recording, you can specify where you want to save it, but most people just mash the OK button without even reading the dialog box, so Normal.dotm is the default. To locate that template, open Windows Explorer (the file manager, not the web browser) and enter this in the address box:
%appdata%MicrosoftTemplates (Again, it’s possible to store templates in a different folder, but very few people do. If you’re one of them, look in the Word options Advanced File Locations dialog to see where the Templates folder is.)
Usually we discourage the practice of copying Normal.dotm from one computer or user to another, because it stores a lot of personal customizations
besides macros. When you’re the user of both computers, though, it’s OK — in fact, it’ll help to synchronize the settings so you’re comfortable on
both systems. (But it doesn’t transfer customizations that are stored elsewhere, such as the registry, the Building Blocks.dotx file, custom themes, custom dictionary, etc.)

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……..Quite often when you uninstall an app, the customizations and data are left behind because the app developer assumes you will be reinstalling the app or an upgraded app. I am not sure where Office saves it’s customizations and macros, but obviously that folder was saved for use during the assumed reinstall. This articlemay provide some answers to that location..

Hello Ted,

YYEEEAAAHHHHHH.
You are right! I will read the article.

Many thanks,

Flores:o

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I had Office 2007 or my PC for a while and found it a HUGE Monster, so I went into Add/Remove programs and UN-Installed it.
Then I went into the HD with Windows Explorer and removed the folders and whatever else I could find.
Then I cleaned and re-compacted my registry and got rid of 30 meg’s of registry crap left over from the UN-Install.
That reduced the size of my registry by 1/3.

I won’t let that beast anywhere near my PC, ever again.

I needed Word and Excel so I did a custom install of Office 2003 and installed only those two apps.
Office 2003 is perfect for what I need.

I got rid of another monster when I deleted Adobe Reader and replaced it with “Foxit Reader”.

Cheers mates!
The Doctor

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…..I won’t let that beast anywhere near my PC, ever again. I needed Word and Excel so I did a custom install of Office 2003 and installed only those two apps. Office 2003 is perfect for what I need.

Hello DoctorWho,

Office 2007 came bundled with my laptop. Diferently from you, I also need OUTLOOK, besides EXCEL, the mostly used, and Word. I have no previous versions of MS Office, to do what you did, a custom install of only the apps you need.
So, I am thinking to upgrade to MS Office 2010, and install just what I need …. and paying for a lot of apps and features I don’t use.
Thanks for your comments.
Regards,
Flores

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I had Office 2007 or my PC for a while and found it a HUGE Monster, so I went into Add/Remove programs and UN-Installed it.
Then I went into the HD with Windows Explorer and removed the folders and whatever else I could find.
Then I cleaned and re-compacted my registry and got rid of 30 meg’s of registry crap left over from the UN-Install.
That reduced the size of my registry by 1/3.

I won’t let that beast anywhere near my PC, ever again.

I needed Word and Excel so I did a custom install of Office 2003 and installed only those two apps.
Office 2003 is perfect for what I need.

I got rid of another monster when I deleted Adobe Reader and replaced it with “Foxit Reader”.

Cheers mates!
The Doctor

The previous post by RodeRunner lists RevoUninstaller, which does essentially all the removals DrWho mentions automatically, except for the Registry. With CCleaner’s Registry Cleanup module, most users can get good results on the remaining Registry cleanup after Revo has finished. Yes, the manual methods offer more control and thoroughness, but Revo and CCleaner offer the convenience of automatically removing most of the data which could prevent a clean reinstallation.

On a more general note to the OP and Roderunner — RevoUninstaller has four levels of removal. The default is Level 2 or 3, which may still leave behind some Registry entries, user data, and files and folders. The OP seems to want to get rid of these traces. So, I recommend using Revo at Level 4, which can remove all the old data associated with most programs. At each removal stage, the user may select to remove as much or as little as one feels safe doing.

This having been said, I have found that some installations of Office (particularly OEM installations) are nearly impossible to completely remove, even with the tools offered by Microsoft and some third-party applications or web downloads. I hope in this case the outcome is better than my own experience on my Toshiba Satellite.

No matter how I have tried to remove Office 2007 (trial version, OEM preinstalled) from the Satellite, I still have traces in my Registry and my Program Files (x86) which trigger an occasional MS Update offer. I haven’t gotten up the courage to manually edit the Registry, so maybe I could succeed that way, as DrWho recommends. (My Windows 7 is 64-bit, so Registry editing is quite daunting for me.)

A bit off-topic, but Foxit Reader, mentioned by DrWho, is itself getting pretty pushy about unnecessary and sometimes costly upgrades and features. For this reason, I am sticking with NitroPDF free edition, which isn’t quite so pushy. (Although, Nitro does try to prompt upgrades to its paid Pro edition from time to time.)

The one module of MS Office I reinstalled is the PowerPoint Viewer. LibreOffice/ OpenOffice does not always play back PowerPoint presentations as well as Microsoft’s own Viewer. And this Viewer does trigger some Office Updates offers from MS Updates.

Finally, 64-bit Office Suites are not yet ready for Prime Time. There are a lot of issues which are still being worked out. I would recommend only the 32-bit versions for now. Same for browsers.

-- rc primak

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When I uninstalled 2007 to install 2010, I intentionally went through Control Panel because I figured that Microsoft would look after Microsoft and keep the good stuff. I was concerned that something like Revo Pro would mess with the registry and eliminate things I wanted.

I knew in advance that there is a difference in the default file locations, for example, but vast numbers of users routinely mess with file locations by locating data on a different drive from the system drive, so it’s not rocket science to them, although it could be to users who haven’t tried it. If you look at the differences in many discussions of it it might as well be rocket science. If nothing goes wrong, the programs can find the files without difficulty, based on the very information that the Control Panel uninstall retained for you, and you don’t have to do a thing.

I was pleased that Microsoft kept the very things you seem concerned about, because setting up all of the personal choices in Options for every program is time-consuming. Some of it comes from Windows settings, and working your way through the spelling and grammar options is easy after the millionth time, but if you have built dictionaries and autocorrects and building blocks and macros I shudder at the thought of losing it all. I don’t know how much of that is directly transferable from 2007 to 2010, but I can report that everything appears to work well in 2010. Please remember that 2010’s programs are all new versions, and some have substantial differences (and additional options to set).

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Hello dogberry,
Your indepth comments makes me feel safe if I decide to switch to Office 2010, from 2007.
Thanks,
Regards,
Flores

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Flores, Did the PC manufacturer bundle cd’s or dvd’s with the PC to reinstall if this becomes necessary? Quite often this bundle Office app is a limited or trial app to peak your interest so that you will buy the full app. A Google Search shows many sources for Office. I cannot attest to the trustworthyness of these offers, but many are listed. I hope one or more of these might help.

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=….Did the PC manufacturer bundle cd’s or dvd’s with the PC to reinstall if this becomes necessary?

No, Ted. Unfortunately.
I will have to buy it. I have severeal trustworthy suppliers, including M$
Thanks,
Flores

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Office Home & Business, which seems to be the most adequate package considering what has been said here, can be bought directly from Microsoft, for aproximately 460 reais: http://www2.buyoffice.microsoft.com/bra/default.aspx

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Hello Rui,

Office Home & Business is the one to buy as Outlook is also included.
It costs about R$ 475,00.

Thanks,
Flores

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Hello Rui,

Office Home & Business is the one to buy as Outlook is also included.
It costs about R$ 475,00.

Thanks,
Flores

Hi Flores,

Yes, on the link I posted, bought from Microsoft, through Digital River, I think it costs R$ 463.31.

Cumprimentos

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I’ve found the upgrade from Office 2007 to Office 2010 to be very straightforward. If you wish you can leave Office 2007 installed also except for Outlook (only one version of Outlook may be installed at a time). I’ve not had a good reason to leave Office 2007 installed though. If you’ve grown accustomed to the ribbon in Office 2007 then the Office 2010 UI will not be a shock to you. The ribbon is extended into the Office components from which it was missing in Office 2007. Also, it is much more customizable than in Office 2007 though not as much as some Office veterans would like.

NOTE: If you intend to install the 64-bit version of Office 2010 you MUST uninstall the 32-bit version of Office 2007 first. Microsoft recommends that unless you have a very good reason to install the 64-bit version Office 2010 that you install the 32-bit version. This is because many, if not most, Office addins have not yet been upgraded to run with the 64-bit version. There have also been some stability issues reported with the 64-bit version.

Joe

--Joe

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….I’ve found the upgrade from Office 2007 to Office 2010 to be very straightforward. …..The ribbon is extended into the Office components from which it was missing in Office 2007. Also, it is much more customizable than in Office 2007 though not as much as some Office veterans would like.

Hello Joe,

You gave me some good new that I appreciate.

Thanks,
Flores

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I do not know if overseas schools count, but is there a chance the Academic Discountsapply to you. These are heavily discounted if you are elligible, or know someone willing to purchase for you. Might be worth a look.

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There is a MS fixit for Office 2007 removal if control panel doesn’t work for some reason.
See:
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/971179

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Hi Ted,

Unfortunately I’m not eligible for those big discounts.
Anyway, thanks for your tip.
Cheers,
Flores

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…..There is a MS fixit for Office 2007 removal if control panel doesn’t work for some reason.

Hello pjamme,

Yes, there is: MicrosoftFixit50154.msi and I used it.

It works fine.

Thanks,
Flores

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Bob Primak,

A bit off-topic, but Foxit Reader, mentioned by DrWho, is itself getting pretty pushy about unnecessary and sometimes costly upgrades and features. For this reason, I am sticking with NitroPDF free edition, which isn’t quite so pushy. (Although, Nitro does try to prompt upgrades to its paid Pro edition from time to time.)

I use this free portable pdf reader, loads slightly slower but excellent customisable features. http://www.portablefreeware.com/?id=1436

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I use this free portable pdf reader, loads slightly slower but excellent customisable features. http://www.portablefreeware.com/?id=1436

Just a brief note, as this sub-thread is a bit off-topic. That free viewer looks nice and small, but I like the other features (editing, printing, converting web pages for download, etc.) which Nitro offers, all free.

-- rc primak

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Just a brief note, as this sub-thread is a bit off-topic. That free viewer looks nice and small, but I like the other features (editing, printing, converting web pages for download, etc.) which Nitro offers, all free.

Your correct Bob, apologies to Flores for doing so.
P.S. I also use http://www.filehippo.com/download_cutepdf_writer/

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I use NitroPDF. I find the latest version interesting, much more than the previous one. It’s well integrated with the browsers and works reasonably well.
There are some PDF files NitroPDF is unable to display properly. I have a convertible laptop, so I handwrite notes and comments over pdf files. NitroPDF just doesn’t display these properly. The latest version is better than the previous one, in this respect too, but not good enough. None of the other viewers I tried had these issues, neither Adobe Reader or FoxIt, but I just don’t like FoxIt and Adobe Reader has the issues everybody knows.

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Thanks for the response rui! I have no issues with Foxit free reader for now so will just keep it on my main units and try Nitro on the older XP laptop with word 2000 on it and see what I think after emaling a few oddball pdf files to it, and trying to create a few there. There is nothing on that computer that I am saving anyway as I am wiping it and reinstalling the right OS, as the previous owner bought a legit copy of XP Media center 2005 for a computer with only a CD drive no video capabilities. I do have all the original XP Pro OS and driver disks for it so if I like it I’ll reload and finish testing it. Occasionally with a new program I find out the tips and tricks after the fact.:o:

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A bit belated, but unless there are special security features in a PDF File, I find that if Foxit can open it, or Adobe Reader, then Nitro has few if any problems with PDF Files created by other programs or downloaded from a variety of web pages. It’s free to try, and you do not have to uninstall anything to use Nitro. So why not give it a try and see if it’s what you were looking for?

Oh, and if you edit with Nitro, or fill out a form, the saved PDF file can be uploaded or emailed or opened with any PDF reader or office suite which can open PDF files. (Almost always.)

I use Nitro PDF on both Windows XP Pro 32-bit, and on Windows 7 Home Premium 64-bit. Other than a tremendous speed increase under 64-bit Win-7, Nitro works very well on both platforms. And Nitro has a PDF download plug-in for Firefox.

When special hand-written input is acquired through a touch-screen or other input device, I can well imagine that Nitro might have some difficulty with that sort of input. But that’s getting pretty far off the beaten path.

Nitro can import a signature image from a smart phone, by the way.

-- rc primak

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