Helping people with computers... one answer at a time.

Installing Beta software comes with real risks, including the inability to uninstall. Often there are few options unless you've prepared beforehand.

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.

Article C4052 - January 7, 2010

Leo Leo A. Notenboom has been playing with computers since he was required to take a programming class in 1976. An 18 year career as a programmer at Microsoft soon followed. After "retiring" in 2001, Leo started Ask Leo! in 2003 as a place for answers to common computer and technical questions. More about Leo.

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Recent Comments
14 Comments

VERY FIX
http://www.howtogeek.com/howto/15626/fix-problems-upgrading-office-2010-beta-to-rtm-final-release/

Posted by: igor at June 30, 2010 1:20 AM

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)

Posted by: Christian at October 8, 2010 8:26 AM

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

Posted by: Charlie at November 22, 2010 2:50 PM

I had same problem, tried everything for two days, then found this on microsoft's website http://support.microsoft.com/kb/290301 Completely uninstalls office, can reinstall again with no problem.

Posted by: Jammie at January 25, 2011 9:31 PM

If you have previously tried one of the methods to remove Office and it has failed, you can jump to another method quickly from this list 1) Uninstall 2)Microsoft Office 2010 suites from Control Panel Uninstall Microsoft Office 2010 suites with Microsoft Fix it 3) Uninstall Microsoft Office 2010 suites with the Program Install and Uninstall troubleshooter
4) Remove Microsoft Office 2010 suites manually..

Posted by: Microsoft Support at December 8, 2011 2:18 AM
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