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How to Fix Office Installation Error 1603 Related to WMI
Question details
The user is attempting to resolve an installation failure where the Office installer cannot compile OSPPWMI.MOF due to WMI issues.
- Product
- Microsoft Office 2010, 2013, 2016
- Device & OS
- Windows
- Scenario
- Installing Microsoft Office on a computer with a corrupted Windows Management Instrumentation (WMI) repository.
- Observed behavior
- The installation process halts and displays error 1603, often accompanied by WMI error codes like 0x80041002 and 0x80070003.
Ensure you are logged into Windows with an administrator account, as rebuilding the WMI repository requires elevated system permissions.
Rebuild the Windows Management Instrumentation (WMI) Repository
Rebuilding the WMI repository clears out damaged files and restores the system's management capabilities, allowing the Office installer to successfully compile the OSPPWMI.MOF file.
A corrupted WMI repository is the primary cause for error 1603 during the Office Software Protection Platform installation phase. Resetting it forces Windows to rebuild the database from scratch.
Click the Windows Start menu, type 'cmd' into the search bar, right-click on 'Command Prompt', and select 'Run as administrator'.
In the Command Prompt window, type 'net stop winmgmt' and press Enter to temporarily disable the WMI service.
Type 'winmgmt /resetrepository' and press Enter. Wait for the confirmation message stating that the WMI repository has been reset successfully.
Restart Windows to ensure all WMI services start up cleanly with the newly built repository.
Launch the Microsoft Office installer again. The OSPPWMI.MOF compilation step should now complete without triggering error 1603.
Install WPS Office as a Lightweight, Error-Free Alternative
If you are unable to resolve complex Microsoft Office installation errors like 1603, or if you're using older versions like Office 2016 which are nearing the end of their extended support in October 2025, consider switching to WPS Office. It installs in seconds without relying on complex system dependencies like WMI.
- 1. Download the Installer: Visit the official WPS Office website and click the free download button to get the setup file.
- 2. Run the Setup: Double-click the downloaded executable file to launch the lightweight installer.
- 3. Complete Installation: Follow the on-screen prompts. WPS Office installs rapidly and is ready to open your existing Word, Excel, and PowerPoint files immediately.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does error 1603 mean during an Office installation?
Error 1603 is a generic Windows Installer error code. In the context of Microsoft Office, it frequently occurs when the installer cannot compile the OSPPWMI.MOF file because the Windows Management Instrumentation (WMI) repository on the PC is damaged.
What is OSPPWMI.MOF?
OSPPWMI.MOF is a configuration file related to the Office Software Protection Platform. It interacts with the WMI database to manage software licensing. If the WMI service is broken, this file fails to compile, terminating the Office installation.
Will resetting the WMI repository delete my files?
No, resetting the WMI repository will not delete your personal files or documents. However, it resets the internal management database, which means you might need to repair other software applications that heavily rely on WMI if they show errors afterward.
