Microsoft Office Compatibility Pack "The converter failed to open the file" error & "This is a pre-release version"
If you encounter the following error:
"This is a pre-release version of the compatibility pack and can open pre-release Office 2007 files only."
And no matter what you try (ie reinstalling, repairing office & installing newest version) you cannot get rid of it then uninstall it, before running this install for Windows Installer 3.1 (if not already installed) -
http://www.microsoft.com/download/en/details.aspx?displaylang=en&id=25
Aswell as XML parser v6 (if not already installed) -
http://www.microsoft.com/download/en/details.aspx?id=3988
Next step (not Windows 2000) is to install version 3 (i'm still looking for version 2 for Windows 2000) of the Compatibilty Pack -
http://dl.dropbox.com/u/66653574/Compatibility%20Pack/step%203%20win2000%20install%20FileFormatConverters%20v3.exe
Or install the latest version of the Compatibility Pack -
http://www.microsoft.com/download/en/details.aspx?id=3
Followed by the Compatibility Pack Service Pack 1 (possibly not required) -
http://www.microsoft.com/download/en/details.aspx?id=1285
Then Compatibility Pack Service Pack 2 (possibly not required) -
http://www.microsoft.com/download/en/details.aspx?id=12439
And finally Compatibility Pack Service Pack 3 -
http://www.microsoft.com/download/en/details.aspx?id=27836
I'm unsure which service packs (if any) work with Windows 2000, i have a couple of machines to 'fix' with this problem and will update this post accordingly.
Update
All 3 Windows 2000 machines (with Office XP/2002) I have further problems with ("The converter failed to open the file") and I still need Version 2 (or 1) of the Compatibility Pack. But the above steps have fixed the PC with Windows 2000 and Office 2003.
Update 2
I have been able to source an older version of the Office Compatibility Pack! (props to TwoJ over at Siginet Software!)
As far as I can tell this is version 1 of the Compatibility Pack, making it compatible with Windows 2000. Sharing it here for others.
http://dl.dropbox.com/u/66653574/FileFormatConverters.exe
I have tested this on 7 Windows 2000 PC's and it is working on all of them! :)
I was able to localize some source links:
Version 1, 12.0.4518.1014: http://download.microsoft.com/download/6/6/7/66720628-eb26-4cfc-8531-deed2ce021b4/FileFormatConverters.exe
Version 2, 12.0.4518.1042 – as above: http://dl.dropbox.com/u/66653574/FileFormatConverters.exe
Version 3, 12.0.6015.5000: http://www.takaro.hu/letoltesek_elemei/elemek/FileFormatConverters.exe
Version 4, 12.0.6500.5000: http://download.microsoft.com/download/e/4/9/e4996d8f-838e-4b75-8685-1e6134762992/FileFormatConverters.exe