Everytime I Open A Microsoft Office Program It Only Opens Office Setup Assistant

hey guys.

i just downloaded the Microsoft Office 2008 recent update released a week or so ago and now i can't open any of the Office programs..

i try to open a program or a document and it just opens the Office Setup Assistant instead... then I go to "check for updates" and it says there are none but then it goes back to the "check for updates" screen, and if i try and just close it then nothing opens and i have to start the process over again..

any help??