Mac Office 2011 Latest Update won't install on OSX 10.8.5

Anonymous
2013-10-11T22:35:00+00:00

I just ran the update program for Word for 2011, version 14.3.8 and when it gets to the part to select which drive

to install it to, there is a yellow exclamation mark on my main iMac Hard Drive where Office 2011 for Mac IS installed.

I get an error message stating that "This software requires OS X 10.5.8 or later."

My iMac IS running OS X 10.8.5.

I also tried downloading the installer and running it that way, same error.  Can't install latest update with security fixes.

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  1. Anonymous
    2013-10-18T17:44:48+00:00

    I am sorry folks are seeing an issue, and I'll endeavor to help where I can.

    A little information to end some of the speculation. Microsoft Office uses the Apple Installer for our updates and installers. The Installer itself has a routine that will determine the OS of the machine you are on - this is not a Microsoft written routine.

    If you would please...

    1. launch your updater (or installer if you are starting from scratch) - just launch it, do not hit any button once it is launched
    2. Press CMD+L (or from the Window menu choose Installer Log)
    3. In the Installer Log window, please change the drop down control on the top left and select Show All Logs
    4. Line 4 should say what OS the Installer thinks is on your machine.

    Mine says Running OS Build: ac OS X 10.8.5 (12F45)

    If yours says something other than what you are actually running, then that is indicating that your OS is not reporting back the correct version of the Operating System. If that is the case, there are suggestions from others in this post on how to repair your OS.

    The link to the Apple website (https://discussions.apple.com/message/23336410#23336410 )concerns not be able to install anything (Flash Player, Apple Combo Updater, and Office) after installing 10.8.5 12F45 on some machines.

    David Pelton

    Microsoft, CAPES Test Lead

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  2. Anonymous
    2013-10-18T17:08:34+00:00

    Mine is doing the exact same thing!

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  3. Anonymous
    2013-10-17T18:34:52+00:00

    Great! I'm glad to hear it was only an hour. Could be the connection to server to download the installer that took so long. Add in differences with hardware, times can vary.

    Now you are all set to upgrade to OS X 10.9 (Mavericks) when it's released. Look for the announcement Oct 22.

    Tip: Clone your drive before upgrading. If there are issues you can easily revert to Mountain Lion.

    Check compatibility for your applications here. You don't want to upgrade and find out you need to spend hundreds of dollars upgrading Adobe CS suite or another high priced app you use.

    App Compatibility Table

    APPLICATION COMPATIBILITY & FEATURE SUPPORT FOR OS X & IOS

    http://roaringapps.com/apps:table

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  4. Anonymous
    2013-10-17T16:36:33+00:00

    A firmware update could cause the info to be read incorrectly as well as when you change out drives. 

    Not everyone was experiencing this problem and I'm just trying to determine what the differences are on your computer that is causing this behavior.

    No firmware or hard drive changes to my iMac.  Just continue to run the OSX updates as they are available.

    Me too.

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  5. Anonymous
    2013-10-17T15:28:39+00:00

    It looks like a problem with your base OS X install. The following fix was found on Apple Discussions. the same screenshot is in this post:

    https://discussions.apple.com/message/23336410#23336410

    Restart your Mac, then hold down command and R. It should boot to the recovery partition. From the list that shows up choose "reinstall osx".

    Does not delete your files or applications. Takes approx 4 hrs.

    Let us know if this works for you with the Microsoft updater,

    IT WORKED!!!!!!!!!

    I was very afraid but after reinstall my OS all is working normally. No problem with Office intall or update.

    By the way, the process is not 4 hours. For me, it took 1 hour maximum.

    Thank you all, so much!!

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