For non steam users:
Basically the only solution (the simplest but the longest;) ) is to uninstall your whole game (make a backup of all your settings if you really want to) and reinstall it properly. Properly means :
- Install Arma 2 first,
- Install Arma 2 OA IN THE ARMA 2 FOLDER, the game should ask you where you want to install it but by default it should automatically point to the Arma 2 folder. If it doesn't then make it do.
- Install Arma 2 BAF and PMC if necessary,
- Install last patch (i.e. 1.57)
With the first two steps, the game will automatically be Combined Ops.
Last advise, before installing OA (after installing Arma 2 then), check if the ArmA 2 registry contains the correct MAIN value.
For more details on this and in order to avoid that the game doesn't recognize Arma 2 go to : http://forums.bistudio.com/showthread.php?t=112568
as posted by AlienXXI
Hope it helps.
Regards.