I've recently re-installed Win 98 (ancient - I know!) and I have no Office software installed. I then went to install office 2000 and the autorun brings up the Windows Installer screen with the message "Preparing to install". It then disappears and nothing else happens.

Can anybody help me with this problem??

Try wiping off the bottom of the CD with a T-shirt and running it again or you could double-click the "My Computer" icon and then double-click the CD ROM drive icon and click setup.

If the CD has a lot of scratches on it, then that is likely your problem. You will need to replace the CD and retry your install. If no other CD's read, then you have a bad CD ROM drive and it needs to be replaced.