How to test for damaged Office for Mac installation media (282981)


The information in this article applies to:

  • Microsoft Office 2004 for Mac Standard Edition
  • Microsoft Office v. X for Mac
  • Microsoft Office 2001 for Mac
  • Microsoft Office 98 Macintosh Edition
  • Microsoft Excel X for Mac
  • Microsoft Excel 2001 for Mac
  • Microsoft Excel 98 Macintosh Edition
  • Microsoft PowerPoint X for Mac
  • Microsoft PowerPoint 2001 for Macintosh
  • Microsoft PowerPoint 98 Macintosh Edition
  • Microsoft Word X for Mac
  • Microsoft Word 2001 for Macintosh
  • Microsoft Word 98 Macintosh Edition
This article was previously published under Q282981

SYMPTOMS

When you attempt to install a program from a floppy disk or a CD-ROM, you may receive the following error messages if the floppy disk is damaged, or if the CD-ROM is dirty or scratched:
Disk I/O error.

-or-

This is not a Macintosh disk: Do you want to initialize it?

-or-

This disk is damaged: Do you want to initialize it?

-or-

Error -36

WORKAROUND

To test whether your installation media is damaged, use the appropriate methods for your situation.

How to Test a Floppy Disk

Method 1: Copy the Floppy Disk to the Hard Disk Drive

To copy the floppy disk, follow these steps:
  1. Quit all open programs.
  2. Insert the disk that caused the error message.
  3. Hold down OPTION, click the disk, and drag it to the hard disk drive.
If the floppy disk contains errors, you will have difficulty copying it to the hard disk drive.

Method 2: Check If the Disk Is Write-Protected

To determine if a disk is write-protected, follow these steps:
  1. Hold the floppy disk up, with the back of the disk facing towards you, and the write-protect tab in the upper-left corner.
  2. Make sure that the write-protect tab of the disk is pressed firmly in the up position.

    If the write-protect tab is in the down position (no light comes through), the disk is not write-protected, and may have been corrupted.
NOTE: Microsoft strongly recommends that all installation disks be write-protected.

Method 3: Try the Disk in Another Drive or Computer

If you can install the floppy disk without error on a different computer, your disk drive may be out of alignment. If so, Microsoft suggests that you contact an Apple Support Technician to troubleshoot the issue.

For information about how to contact Apple, click the appropriate article number in the following list to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

65416 Hardware and software vendor contact information, A-K

60781 Hardware and software vendor contact information, L-P

60782 Hardware and software vendor contact information, Q-Z

How to Test a CD-ROM

Method 1: Visually Inspect the CD-ROM for Dust or Fingerprint Smudges

If the CD-ROM is dusty or has fingerprints, clean it with a mild soap and soft cloth. Or, try cleaning the shiny surface with damp toilet paper; (tissues often have lanolin or other ingredients that leave their own film). Then, dry the surface completely.

When cleaning and drying the disc, wipe straight from the center of the disc to the edge. Do not wipe around in a circle. You may have to clean the surface up to three times.

Method 2: Visually Inspect the CD-ROM for Scratches

If a CD-ROM is scratched, the information on it may not be retrievable and you may need to purchase a replacement CD-ROM to install the program. For replacement Microsoft software, please contact the Microsoft Order Desk at (800) 360-7561.
Modification Type:MajorLast Reviewed:3/10/2005
Keywords:kbprb KB282981
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