MISHA  "You cannot install Office 2008 12.1.2 Update on this volume. A version of the software required to install this update was not found on this volume".

Are you renaming the Microsoft Office folder or any of the apps or other files?

Have you moved it outside of the Applications folder?  
(Version 12.1.2)

ALEJANDRO RAMIREZ  Hi,

You mentioned in your posting that the same thing happened to you during the 12.1.1 update. How did you resolve it the last time?

The known causes for seeing this issue is like the other commenter said: a) you moved your Office 2008 folder, b) You have used tools that may be removing components from Office and other programs (to save space), or c) Renamed any files or folders.

Your information will be helpful in our continued efforts to reduce this incidents.

Alejandro Ramirez

Microsoft Mac BU  
(Version 12.1.2)

BILLY THE BIKER  I get the same error message:

You cannot install Office 2008 12.1.2 Update on this volume. A version of the software required to install this update was not found on this volume.

I have trashed extra languages, but I would hope that I wouldn't have to reinstall just because I want some HD space.  
(Version 12.1.2)

ERIC WOEHLER  Same message for me - I have deleted the numerous additional language files, mainly because I only use English, to save HUNDREDS of megabytes of disk space. Lo and behold, I have to reinstall the software to update it!!!!

The same problem exists for Acrobat Pro in CS3.

When will Microsoft and Adobe provide updaters that don't require complete re-installs for their software.

This is probably the last time I use Office - suggest others look at Open Office 3 or NeoOffice or iWork. All are excellent alternatives to Office with Open Office and NeoOffice both FREE to d/l and use. iWork is a cheap alternative.

Microsoft is losing touch (if that is possible) with its Mac users - get rid of the stupid requirement of a bloated install as a pre-requisite for upgrading from 12.1.0 to 12.1.1 and from 12.1.1 to 12.1.2 etc etc etc  
(Version 12.1.2)

ERIC WOEHLER  Unable to install updater - I have deleted the numerous additional language files, mainly because I only use English, to save HUNDREDS of megabytes of disk space. Lo and behold, I have to reinstall the software from scratch and run 3 updaters to update it!!!!

The same problem exists for Acrobat Pro in CS3.

When will Microsoft and Adobe provide updaters that don't require complete re-installs for their software, and allow users to delete unnecessary bloat files, such as un-needed language files?

This is probably the last time I use Office - I suggest others look at Open Office 3 or NeoOffice or iWork. All are excellent alternatives to Office with Open Office and NeoOffice both FREE to d/l and use. iWork is a cheap alternative.

Microsoft is losing touch (if that is still possible) with its Mac users - get rid of the stupid requirement of a bloated install as a pre-requisite for upgrading from 12.1.0 to 12.1.1 and from 12.1.1 to 12.1.2 etc etc etc  
(Version 12.1.2)

GENGHISCOHEN  Well, I'm another "victim" of Microsoft's moronic installer.

Instated of reinstalling Office and rerunning all the g__d___ updates, has anyone had any luck using Pacifist to install the update?  
(Version 12.1.2)

A J BENAMU  I have not moved, uninstalled Office or renamed anything and can't install this update on Leopard.  
(Version 12.1.2)

RICKEY939  It's because you guys have localizations removed from Office 2007 using Macaroni or some other application.   
(Version 12.1.2)

A J BENAMU  My Office is in English and have not removed anything, so that is not the cause.  
(Version 12.1.2)

BILLY THE BIKER  We know why; we removed languages we don't need or want. The problem is that MS wants us to store unnecessary crap on our computers. I just hate having to reinstall the whole app, it's a pain.  
(Version 12.1.2)

A J BENAMU  Don't waste your time, I already did the reinstallation and it still doesn't work.  
(Version 12.1.2)

RICKEY939  Hahahaha!!!!!!!!!  
(Version 12.1.2)

SIMU S  Same problem with me.

I did a fresh reinstall of office 2008 -> no luck. Now I can't even install older office-Updates (12.1.1) as a prerequisite to installint 12.1.2.

this is really extremly annoying. I loose hours every time and it still doesn't work.

Cheers, Simon  
(Version 12.1.2)

THIERRY.C  Hi,

I found the answer my problem on a post from guy called Node here :

http://forums.macrumors.com/showthread.php?t=543237

It was meant for update 12.1.1 but it worked very well on 12.1.2 !

Here is what you have to do.

- Download the 12.1.1 update directly from Microsoft's Mactopia website.

- Right-click the installer and select "show package contents"

- Navigate to Office 2008 12.1.x Update/Contents/Resources/package_updatable and open the file in TextEdit

- Scroll to the bottom and find the first occurence of "found_valid_version=False"

- Change False to True (search/replace will do the trick)

- Then delete all the text between the line you just modified and"if not found_valid_version:"

- Make sure that this line is not deleted!

- Close the window, it will ask if you want to overwrite the file. Say yes.

9) Close the finder window and then run the installer.

10) Reboot.

Node gives credit to Andrew Murton on the thesource.ofallevil.com forum. Thanks to both of them.

good luck !  
(Version 12.1.2)