Quick fix: Microsoft Office 2008 “Installation Failed”

I just recently installed a copy of Microsoft Office 2008 for my friend and encountered an interesting problem. He is using Simplified Chinese as his system language on Snow Leopard; when I tried to install Office 2008 on it, the software keep giving me the error message saying that “Installation Failed” because the installer cannot find the software.

I was like, what? The copy was a genuine copy right from the store and pretty sure the key was correct; so the chance of keying in a invalid key is very tiny. Then I thought it might be the quality problem of this very DVD. I tried to install it again with my own copy of Microsoft Office 2008 and with his key; that copy is known to be good because I have successfully installed it on my own computer. It just failed AGAIN.

My Macbook is almost identical to my friend’s Macbook and both on Snow Leopard. The only difference I could see was the system language. Wait, is that the problem? So I tried to change his system language back to English, log out, and log back in, then tried the installer again. Boom! It work!!! I can’t believe the system language caused that problem and stop me from installing Office on it.

Here is what I found on Microsoft’s website later after I solved this problem:

This issue occurs when the following conditions are true:

• The Macintosh computer is running MacOS X 10.5 (Leopard)
• The Languages setting for the International System preference is set to one of the following languages:
  • Traditional Chinese
  • Simplified Chinese
  • Korean
  • Tibetan

If these conditions are true, Office 2008 for Mac will not install because of a possible conflict between MacOS X 10.5 and files that contain the character å (a-ring). By default, Office 2008 for Mac installation program installs the Norwegian proofing tools package. One of the files in this package has the character å throughout its contents.

And here is their official solution:

SOLUTION ONE:

Perform a custom installation

To work around this issue, perform a custom installation of Office 2008 for Mac. Do not select the option to install the Norwegian proofing tools. To do this, follow these steps:

1. Insert the Office 2008 for Mac installation DVD in the DVD drive.
2. On the desktop, open the Office 2008 icon.
3. Double-click the Office Installer icon.
4. Click Customize.
5. In the installation choices tree, expand Microsoft Office 2008.
6. Expand Proofing Tools.
7. Click to clear the Norwegian check box.

SOLUTION TWO:

Change the language preferences

To work around this issue, change the computer’s language preferences. To do this, follow these steps:

1. On the Apple menu, click System Preferences.
2. In the System Preferences window, under Personal, click International.
3. In the Languages list, select a language other than the four languages that are listed in the “Cause” section. To do this, follow these steps:
   1. Click Edit List.
   2. Select the language check box that you want to switch to.
   3. Click OK.
   4. Select the new language, and then drag it to the top of the list.
4. Close the International window.
5. On the Apple menu, click Log Out Username, and then click Log Out.
6. Log on to the computer by using the same account.
7. Insert the Office 2008 for Mac installation DVD into the DVD drive.
8. On the desktop, open the Office 2008 icon.
9. Double-click the Office Installer icon, and then install Office 2008 for Mac.
10. After Office 2008 for Mac is installed, click System Preferences on the Apple menu.
11. In the System Preferences window, under Personal, click International.
12. In the Languages list, select the original language and drag it to the top of the list.
13. Close the International window.
14. On the Apple menu, click Log Out Username, and then click Log Out.
15. Log on to the computer by using the same account.