How do you install the required translator PRORET.MSI if you don't have the program disks?

if you search for proret.msi on internet, you will easily find places to download it from.

Vadim, many thanks for giving me the benefit of the doubt.  If I am here, you can bet that I have already googled the heck out of proret.msi and have as yet been unable to resolve the problem.  Apparently proret.msi is part of a folder that I am missing, and one needs to have the exact proret.msi for the type of operating system, level of patches installed, etc.  It's not as easy as it sounds, but thanks for trying to help me.  I thought it would be easier if I just updated the entire operating system using the update feature on the Microsoft site, but even that did not resolve the problem.  I have additionally searched the Knowledge base as well as CNET, to no avail.

Well it's looking for PRORET.MSI on an install CD.

See here

http://www.pcuser.com.au/pcuser/hs2.nsf/lookup+1/833C5757DD3ECDFCCA256C81001D1F5D

You'd need the original install CD to do the install - just the PRORET.MSI file is not enough.

If you don't have access to the orginal CDs you can try other options.  Try installing Open Office - its free - and use that to access the file.

some options:

1. if you know the exact name of the Office product, find the media. Contact PC manufacturer; or contact Microsoft and buy the media (not the product); find the product on p2p netwowork, such as piratebay, mininova, emule etc. Reinstall if necessary (make note of your existing product key, which is your license for the product, and which makes all the above legal), apply service packs etc.

2. Tell us what you are trying to do, why this "translator" is required, and maybe we will come up with some workaround.

Thank you to both respondees.  I am working part time at an office where no program CDs are locatable.  They have the software on this PC but no disks for the software they have.  It was kind of a mess, which I am working to straighten out.

To Venerable Vadim:  I explained earlier on that I am trying to import to this work PC an Outlook Contact list that was exported from my boss' laptop in Excel (Windows2003) format.  This is where I receive the missing PRORET.MSI error.  I believe the work PC uses WindowsNT.

Is that enough info or do you need more?  We are not inclined to repurchase software we already have, in spite of the fact that I can produce no KEY code or license to show that it was legally purchased.  However, due to the nature of this business entity, I can assure you that all software was properly purchased at some point.  They just had horrible record-keepers, all of whom are no longer with us, and the only person who would have the answer is, unfortunately, deceased (which is why I am here flying by the seat of my pants with no resources at my disposal).

Thanks again for any help you can provide.

Tina

It's not the operating system that is the problem.  It's the Excel format.

Download Open Office http://download.openoffice.org/

It's free.  Use that to import the spreadsheet and then export it in the Excel format you require.

looks like my #2 is not possible. I would proceed with #1.

I will try dbrunton's open office solution when I'm back at the office on Saturday.  I can't believe Microsoft doesn't have a posted solution for this.  We've done nothing special.  I've imported contacts before (on other PCs with other operating systems).  The file is a straight up export to Excel from Outlook Contacts.  Totally vanilla - totally simple procedure.   I've searched the MSKB and CNet as much as possible.  Nothing.  So I thought maybe somebody posted something here.  If nothing else, there has to be a place to get the whole proret.msi package of files, but I guess the only solution now is to go back to DELL (God help me), and beg for the CDs.  I have no idea how old the system is, where they got it from, etc.  Anyway, thanks for your effort.

Hi TinaBestChevyEverMade,

How about an 'Old Dog, Old Tricks' comment.

Download Magical Jelly Bean (still works on NT) from: http://magicaljellybean.com/keyfinder/

Get the actual Product Code for your Office XP.
Beg, Borrow, or Borrow the Office XP CD's from someone and re-install it.

Don't worry about 'accepting' my comment if it works (I'm way over my 3,000/month limit), but I would be curious to know if it works.

Vic

btw - Office XP works fine on NT boxes - or at least it did way back when we were running NT domains.