We're an IT solutions provider for companies of all sizes as well, as residential users, and we've been plagued by a new Microsoft-caused issue that's seriously affecting our client's perception of us since it seems like 'you didn't fix it the first time' or 'you sold us the computer', so it's our responsibility to fix for free.
We've experienced this with 17 people so far, ranging from residential clients with systems that have come from big box stores and from systems we've sold with Microsoft Office 2013 and basically the entire suite stops working. If you click an icon, you may see an hour glass for a few seconds and nothing happens (but usually nothing happens at all, as though you didn't click it).
Diagnostic steps:
- No errors in eventlog, neither under system or application.
- No third party add-ins, sometimes it's a stock install on a new / fresh system.
- Starting Microsoft Office applications in safe mode, like winword /safe, has no effect.
- A quick repair or an online repair will not resolve the issue, it will say it's done but issue still exists.
- Microsoft Office 2013 cannot be uninstalled, we always receive the same error code: 0-4
- Some systems do not have third party antivirus, some are simply using Microsoft Security Essentials.
- This affects all Microsoft Office applications, including Outlook.
- Makes no difference if you use another user account or run-as admin.
- All Microsoft Office 2013 updates have been installed.
- The installation source is undetermined but recent issues stemmed from a physical media (.ISO) install from Microsoft's latest source.
- You cannot start the software by clicking on documents created with Office applications.
The only way to remove Microsoft Office 2013 is with the removal tool "O15CTRRemove.diagcab".
The problem returns after a random period of days and no client can relay the actual cause of the issue, it seems random in nature. After the issue is experienced, we go through the same steps including the necessity to utilize the removal tool.
This seems to be a new issue that's come out of the blue within the past few weeks, at least on our end. When 17 random people call out of the blue with the same problem, it suggests it's Windows Update related.
I'm really hoping someone has some insight into this Microsoft glitch and knows of a secret hotfix or special trick to prevent it. I attempted to call Microsoft and it would be more enjoyable to punch a concrete wall since you're dealing with useless people in a foreign country who can't really comprehend the seriousness or technicality of the issue, and don't really care, and aren't skilled enough to provideinsight.
Does anyone know about this problem?