LibreOffice wont install

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#1

The story.
In the past I installed an old version of the LO. I deleted the installer. Last week I tried to install a newer version of it. It gave an error message, the old version cannot uninstall because of the missing installer. So I simply deleted the LO folder, in hope that will be a solution. After that, the error popped up again. I tried to delete all the LO entries from the registry, and install again. It was whining again about missing installer. I tried again with the registry. After that the system was whining the missing installer again. Somehow I made a progress and now the newer version is the missing in the error message. I don’t understand, because it was never installed as I wrote. I tried the Microsoft Install and Uninstall troubleshooter. It asks the name from the installed softwares or select the Not listed option.
Naturally, it isn’t in the list, so I chose the not listed. After that it asks of the Product Code of the software. What is the Product Code?

Anyway, I need a solution I don’t care what will be that if I don’t need to buy a new computer or don’t need to reinstall the Windows 7 system. But I need a working solution.
Thanks in advance your help.

#2

You can find the old version in
https://downloadarchive.documentfoundation.org/libreoffice/old/?C=M;O=D
reinstall it, and then install de new version, it automatically updates the over the old one.

#3

As I mentioned in the opening post, now the missing file is the 24.8.3.2 version. That I already downloaded and I tried to install that. I have got the error message: “Cannot found the installer” or so, with error code: 1714.
So, I could use a better solution. For example where should move the installer, in which folder. Or something else that takes me forward.

#4

It would have been better to ask about the issue before hacking away. You could have been directed to General Installation Issues (Windows) - The Document Foundation Wiki


Your previous version can’t be 24.8.3.2, it didn’t get installed.
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You need to find the version of LibreOffice you had before to remove the old entries. As you have deleted the folder it is a little more difficult. You could find a writer document created by the previous version, open the archive with a zip program, and read the meta.xml file to find the exact version it was made with.
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Of course with so much inflicted damage the installer might not be able clean out the previous installation

#5

My previous version can’t be 24.8.3.2. That is true. The painful reality is that, this version number is mentioned in the error message.

#7

I think the safest way to find out the previous version is to copy a Writer document, that was made with the previous installation of LO, to another location and change the extension from .odt to .zip.
Open the zip file with your usual editor then open the meta.xml file and see what version software created it. In the sample below, it can be seen that it was version 7.3.7.2 64 bit for Windows
MetaXML_LOVersion

You can then download the quoted installer from Index of /libreoffice/old (linked from the download page)

1 Like
#6

Background

Did you check the list, or did you just assume that it wouldn’t be there?

Software installation goes a bit beyond filling the folders with program files. There are entries in the computer registry (a few hundred of them, I’d guess), configuration files in Windows system folders, and personalized settings stored in user profile/registry/etc.

Even though you deleted the executables, Windows probably still have those settings/entries retained. They may block, or mess up, a new install. They may also serve as Windows’ “memory” of what was installed.

Suggested solution

The Microsoft troubleshooter tools, as well as a few other uninstall helper utilities (e.g. Geek Uninstaller and Revo Uninstaller), are good emergency fallback, but they sometimes go off track. The safest path, as I see it, is to use the proper LO installer app, as per the guidance from @mariosv.

Detailed guide

  • As long as it is not properly uninstalled, you should be able to determine the exact previous version from the installled “programs and functions” list in the control panel.
  • If you can’t find it there, and you are comfortable navigating the registry, the approximate version (probably close enough) can be determined at this path:
    \HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\LibreOffice\LibreOffice
  • Download the appropriate version according to that, from the link provided above.
  • Run that old installer
    You may get options to modify/repair/remove.
    • If so, it should be safe to choose “remove” without first reinstalling
    • Otherwise, you proceed with a normal install
    • After installing the old version, I’d uninstall it. Probably not required, but a little extra “sweeping in the corners” won’t hurt.
  • Run the new installer.
    • Note that there are different installers for 32- and 64-bit versions. If you get compatibility warnings, read them thoroughly and act accordingly.
    • Note also that Windows 7 no longer receives Microsoft security updates (ended Jan. 2023). If you use that computer online, be wary of threats. Even such a common thing as ad banners - on just about any page - may contain malicious elements.

Don’t hesitate to post back here if, at any point, the process does not go as expected. Many of us have made the mistakes before you, and we will be happy to help you avoiding them. :wink:

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