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Fix Office 2019 Installation Cannot Find CAB Files on Windows 11
Question details
User cannot install Office Professional Plus 2019 on a clean Windows 11 system because the Office Deployment Tool (ODT) cannot locate the required CAB files.
- Product
- Microsoft Office Professional Plus 2019
- Device & OS
- Windows 11
- Scenario
- Installing Office 2019 using a MAK key and the Office Deployment Tool after a clean OS installation.
- Observed behavior
- The installation fails because the setup process cannot locate the downloaded CAB files, despite the configuration using the PerpetualVL2019 channel and en-GB language.
Ensure you have administrator privileges on your Windows 11 computer and that you have fully extracted the Office Deployment Tool and the downloaded Office installation files into a single, accessible folder.
Verify Installation Paths and ODT Configuration
Ensure the command prompt path matches the folder containing your CAB files and correct any misconfigurations in the XML file.
The most common cause for CAB file errors during an ODT deployment is a mismatch between where the setup engine expects the files to be and where they are actually stored.
Open File Explorer and verify that the folder containing the Office Deployment Tool (setup.exe) also contains the 'Office' folder where your CAB files are downloaded.
Right-click your configuration XML file and select 'Open with Notepad'. Verify that the SourcePath attribute correctly points to the directory containing the CAB files, or remove the SourcePath attribute entirely to force ODT to look in the current directory.
Ensure that the Product ID, Channel (PerpetualVL2019), and Language (en-GB) perfectly match the CAB files you downloaded.
Open Command Prompt as Administrator, use the 'cd' command to navigate directly to the folder containing your ODT setup.exe and XML file, and execute the installation command (e.g., setup.exe /configure configuration.xml).
Remove Conflicting Settings from Configuration File
Remove optional or conflicting configuration parameters, such as RemoveMSI, which might interrupt the fresh deployment process.
Use WPS Office for a Hassle-Free Installation on Windows 11
If Microsoft Office Deployment Tool issues persist, consider switching to WPS Office. It installs in seconds without complex XML configurations or CAB files, runs smoothly on Windows 11, and offers a highly compatible, free alternative to Microsoft Office 2019.
- 1. Download the installer: Visit the official WPS Office website and click the Free Download button.
- 2. Run the setup: Double-click the downloaded executable file to launch the straightforward installation wizard.
- 3. Start working instantly: Open WPS Office immediately after installation to create, view, or edit your documents without any complicated deployment steps.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why does the Office Deployment Tool say it cannot find the CAB files?
This usually happens if the Command Prompt is not navigated to the exact folder where setup.exe and the downloaded 'Office' folder are located, or if the SourcePath in the configuration XML file is incorrect.
What is the PerpetualVL2019 channel in Office deployment?
The PerpetualVL2019 channel is used specifically for deploying volume-licensed versions of Office Professional Plus 2019 and Office Standard 2019, distinguishing it from subscription-based Microsoft 365 channels.
Do I need the RemoveMSI setting for a clean Windows 11 installation?
No. The RemoveMSI setting is used to uninstall older, MSI-based versions of Office before installing Click-to-Run versions. On a clean Windows 11 installation, it is unnecessary and removing it can prevent deployment errors.
How do I check the setup logs for Office deployment errors?
Office setup logs are typically saved in your temporary files directory. You can press Win + R, type %temp%, and look for text files starting with 'MachineName-' and ending in '.log' to find detailed error codes.
