Excel 2007 "configures" itself *every* time I run it

I'm using a hand-me-down PC running Windows 7 and Office 2007, both installed by the previous user. Every time I tried to run Word or Excel I would get a time consuming of series messages and screens starting with stdole32.tlb:


Followed by "Please wait while setup prepares the necessary files:

And then an interminable progress bar that feels like it takes ten minutes to complete (and this happens every time I run Excel:

I was able to find a fix for this problem in running Word 2007. But I haven't been able to fix Excel 2007.

I have a brand new, unopened copy of Office Professional 2007, so I'm thinking that perhaps the easiest way to solve this problem would be to just completely uninstall all traces of the current Office installation, and then try installing this other version.

But before I do that, I'd like to check to see if anyone reading this might know of a straight-forward fix that a non-techie like myself could safely execute.

I found a handful of threads relating to this problem in this forum, but they either use jargon I don't understand or peter out before the problem is solved, e.g.:

http://forums.techguy.org/business-applications/1116536-problem-opening-excel-word-office.html

So, I'd be grateful for help with either trying to fix the current Office 2007 installation, or in uninstalling it and installing a different version.

Will in Seattle
a.k.a. "Clueless"

 

Go to the Programs and Features screen, scroll down to find the entry for MS Office 2007, select it then click on 'Change'. A smaller window will open and you will have the chance to Repair or Uninstall.
Try to repair first, but that is contingent on the cashed installation files existing on the machine; you will know it they are not because you will be asked to install the original media. If that is the case, you may want to Uninstall, then buy your own license of Office 2013.

 

Take that as re-install.
If you go into help in one of the current Office programs, does it give you the Licence Details??