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Solution to “Cannot Find Proofing.en-us” Error When Installing Office 2007

July 12th, 2008 · 9 Comments · Printer Friendly Version

I opted for a download only version of Microsoft Office 2007 for a discounted rate. Ever since I first tried installing Office 2007, the installer gives me error messages about not being able to find files. At first I wrote these off to a poorly designed conversion from the CD media Office normally comes on to the single files installer available for download. Unfourtunatly, a Google search revealed many people, using many different install sources, experienced the same problem. During the initial installation, or when doing a repair install, the Office installer will complain that it “cannot find proofing.en-us\proof.en\proof.cab”. It may also have problems finding “proof.es” or “proof.fr”. Anything you do results in either another error message or the install being cancelled.

The good news is: I’ve found a solution.


It’s actually rather simple. Here is what you do:

  1. When the installer pops up the error, ignore it. Don’t close or cancel the install, just let it sit.
  2. Perform a Windows search for “proof.msi”. You may need to select the “Search system folders” option.
  3. In the results, you will see “proof.msi” located somewhere in the Windows temporary directory.
  4. Copy, or write down, the path that is found.
  5. Return to the installer. You should still have the error message present asking you to enter a location. In the box at the bottom of the error message, type or paste the path from step 4.
  6. Now that you have the path typed/pasted, delete the “proofing.en-us\proof.en\proof.msi” part from it.
  7. Press enter.

The installation should now continue flawlessly.

I’ve only tested this method with the downloadable Office 2007 installer. If you have a CD/DVD installation media and encounter the error messages, please try these steps and post a comment explaining the outcome.

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9 responses so far ↓

  • 1 Reply to this comment Dominic // Aug 7, 2008 at 7:09 am


    Oddly, my proofing.msi was not there, nor could it find the temporary files. It was on the DVD I’d burnt having downloaded it from Technet. And yet, it couldn’t install…

    Solution - I re-downloaded an ISO.

    Oh well… c’est la vie.

  • 2 Reply to this comment James // Aug 12, 2008 at 7:47 pm


    THANKS SO MUCH!!!!!!!!!!!!
    should say “use drive that disc is in” or something like that(step 6 was not that clear)
    but thank you SOOOOO much.

  • 3 Reply to this comment Luis // Sep 11, 2008 at 7:58 am


    After try a lot of things, spells and other magic tricks I realize that there was only a .iso problem. Instead burn another dvd I mount my .iso with Virtual DAEMON Manager and works perfect. Anyway thanks for the help and I hope this info helps to you.

  • 4 Reply to this comment Chase // Sep 11, 2008 at 4:06 pm


    Doesn’t wanna work for me… what was the path you used?

  • 5 Reply to this comment Ryan Adams // Sep 11, 2008 at 5:09 pm


    @Chase: Unfortunately, the path will be different on each computer. Did you not find any instances of “proof.msi”?

  • 6 Reply to this comment Jane // Sep 16, 2008 at 7:11 am


    I originally had this exact problem and was looking forward to using your “simple” solution. But now I have the error message “Cannot find Powerpoint.en-us\PptLR.cab” I cannot find this file on my pc (- but I can find it on another pc that already has Office 2007.)
    Any suggestions?

  • 7 Reply to this comment Ryan Adams // Sep 16, 2008 at 7:13 am


    @Jane: Are you using a retail CD version of Office, or a downloaded version?

  • 8 Reply to this comment Jane // Sep 16, 2008 at 7:36 am


    I am using a retail CD. But now, thanks for your helpful instructions and the comments of James (above) I found the files on the original disc (why did it not find these automatically?) and I am up and running!
    Thanks

  • 9 Reply to this comment Dana // Oct 8, 2008 at 2:01 am


    My computer could not locate the “proof.msi” (I do have a retail CD) - I noticed that other people said they downloaded an ISO (I have no clue what that is or how to do that - can you help?)

  • 10 Reply to this comment Ryan Adams // Oct 8, 2008 at 6:47 am


    @Dana: Microsoft has offered office as a download through some of its discount programs (such as for students). There is no way to get the downloaded version if you’ve bought the CD.

    On a side note. Try disabling any McAfee or Norton security products you have installed temporarily while you install office. One of your fellow readers reported this worked for him.

  • 11 Reply to this comment Kimberly Cherrix // Nov 4, 2008 at 10:49 am


    I have tried all the above steps. Though I can see the proof.mis the installer still says it’s an invalis location. I even tried to copy the .mis AND the proof.cab to another location but I still get invalid location. Any other suggestions. I am using a full version CD that has worked on every other computer.

  • 12 Reply to this comment Ryan Adams // Nov 4, 2008 at 11:51 am


    @Kimberly Cherrix: This post was geared towards people who have a downloaded version. With that said:

    Make sure your computer has all of the latest Windows Updates. Also, as mentioned before, some security suites seem to cause problems. Try temporarily disabling any security (firewall, anti-virus, anti-spyware, etc.) software you might have.

  • 13 Reply to this comment Kasey Cuyler // Nov 16, 2008 at 6:38 pm


    I have tried everything listed above (i have the downloaded blue version)…nothing will seem to work, even disabling security

  • 14 Reply to this comment Ryan Adams // Nov 16, 2008 at 7:32 pm


    @Kasey Cuyler: Sorry to hear about your troubles. You may try installing with Windows booted into Safe Mode. Beyond that, you may unfortunately have to get in contact with Microsoft.

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