How to troubleshoot Office for Mac installation issues

This article describes how to troubleshoot Microsoft Office for Mac installation issues. The "More Information" section addresses the following topics:

• System requirements
• Permissions
• Damaged media
• Upgrade eligibility

System requirements

Always confirm that your computer meets the minimum system requirements for the Microsoft program that you want to install. To verify that your computer meets the minimum system requirements, visit the following Microsoft Web site:

Permissions

To install software in the Applications folder or on the hard disk of a computer that is running Mac OS X, you must have administrator permissions. Alternatively, you can provide the administrator user name and password when you install the software.

The first account that is created on a computer typically has administrative permissions. However, if you are not sure whether your account has the required permissions, follow these steps:

1. On the Apple menu, click System Preferences.
2. Click Accounts.
3. If the word "Admin" appears under your user name, the account has administrator permissions.
4. If your user account does not have administrator permissions, have the administrator edit your account by following these steps:
   1. Click the Security tab.
   2. Click to select the Allow user to administer this computer check box.

Alternatively, the administrator can install the software for you.

Additionally, while you install your Microsoft product, you may receive an error message. The error message states that you do not have Read permission or Write permission to the folder where you want to install the software. This issue may occur if the folder has restrictive permissions that do not include the administrator. To work around this issue, follow these steps:

1. Click to select the folder that you are trying to use.
2. On the File menu, click Get Info.
3. Expand the Ownership & Permissions pane.
4. Expand Details.
5. Click the lock icon that is next to the Owner list to unlock the pane.
6. In the Group list, click admin, and then click Read & Write in the Access list.
7. Click Apply to enclosed items, and then click OK.
8. Click the lock icon to lock the pane.

Damaged media

During installation, you may receive the following error message: When this error occurs, the installation CD may be dirty, scratched, or otherwise damaged. Sometimes you do not receive an error message, and the Microsoft Office folder is not created on the hard disk. For additional information about how to troubleshoot this issue, click the following article number to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

Upgrade eligibility

When you try to install an upgrade version of Office for Mac, you must have one of the following:

• A product that qualifies for an upgrade installed on the computer
• The CD for a product that qualifies for an upgrade

For information about which products qualify for an upgrade to Microsoft Office 2004 for Mac, visit the following Microsoft Web site: You can upgrade to Microsoft Office v. X for Mac if you are a licensed user of any one of the following Microsoft products:

• Microsoft Excel 2001 for Mac
• Microsoft Excel 98 Macintosh Edition
• Microsoft Office 2001 for Mac
• Microsoft Office 98 Macintosh Edition
• Microsoft PowerPoint 2001 for Mac
• Microsoft PowerPoint 98 Macintosh Edition
• Microsoft Word 2001 for Mac
• Microsoft Word + Entourage 2001 Special Edition for Mac
• Microsoft Word 98 Macintosh Edition

If you do not have one of the products that qualify for an upgrade, you must purchase and install the full retail version of Office for Mac.

When you try to install the upgrade version of an Office for Mac product, you may receive the following error message: To resolve this issue, follow these steps:

1. Close the error message, but do not close the Upgrade Verification window.
2. Eject the CD for the upgrade version of Office for Mac if it is in the CD drive or in the DVD drive.
3. Insert the CD for the version of Office for Mac that is eligible for an upgrade, and then open the Office folder that is on the CD.
4. Locate the Microsoft Office file in the Office folder that is on the CD. Then, copy the Microsoft Office file to the corresponding Microsoft Office folder that is on your hard disk. When you copy the file, make sure that you replace the existing Microsoft Office file that is on your hard disk.
5. Eject the CD for the version of Office for Mac that is eligible for an upgrade, and then insert the CD for the upgrade version of Office for Mac.
6. In the Upgrade Verification window, click the Upgrade folder.

The Microsoft Office Installer should now complete the installation.

During the installation of Office 2004 for Mac, you have the option to import identities. If you used an earlier version of Office for Mac, and there is an identity in the /Users/user_name/Documents/Microsoft User Data folder, you can easily import that identity into Office 2004 for Mac.

For additional information about how to troubleshoot installation issues, click the following article numbers to view the articles in the Microsoft Knowledge Base: