You receive an "Error 25509. Microsoft Office XP requires updated system files not detected on your computer" error message when you run Office XP Setup (304901)


The information in this article applies to:

  • the operating system: Microsoft Windows NT 4.0
  • the operating system: Microsoft Windows 98
  • Microsoft Office XP Professional
  • Microsoft Office XP Small Business
  • Microsoft Office XP Standard
  • Microsoft Office XP Students and Teachers
  • Microsoft Office XP Developer
  • Microsoft Access 2002
  • Microsoft Excel 2002
  • Microsoft FrontPage 2002
  • Microsoft Outlook 2002
  • Microsoft PowerPoint 2002
  • Microsoft Word 2002
This article was previously published under Q304901
IMPORTANT: This article contains information about modifying the registry. Before you modify the registry, make sure to back it up and make sure that you understand how to restore the registry if a problem occurs. For information about how to back up, restore, and edit the registry, click the following article number to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

256986 Description of the Microsoft Windows Registry

SYMPTOMS

When you run Setup for Office, you may receive the following error message:
Error 25509. Microsoft Office XP requires updated system files not detected on your computer. You must install the System Files Update prior to installing Office.
Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\CommonFilesDir is absent or not accessible.

CAUSE

You receive this error message if the CommonFilesDir string value is missing from the following registry key:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion

RESOLUTION

To resolve this problem, follow these steps.

WARNING: If you use Registry Editor incorrectly, you may cause serious problems that may require you to reinstall your operating system. Microsoft cannot guarantee that you can solve problems that result from using Registry Editor incorrectly. Use Registry Editor at your own risk.
  1. On the Start menu, click Run.
  2. In the Open box, type Regedit and then click OK.
  3. Locate and select the following key in the registry:

    HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion

  4. On the Edit menu, point to New and then click String Value.
  5. Name this new string value CommonFilesDir.
  6. Double-click the newly created CommonFilesDir string value.
  7. Type the following path in the Value data box, and then click OK:

    C:\Program Files\Common Files

    NOTE: You may need to specify a different path to match this folder location on your computer.

  8. On the Registry menu, click Exit.
  9. Run Setup for Office.

MORE INFORMATION

For additional information about the System Files Update, click the article number below to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

286399 OFFXP: Description of the System Files Update

For additional information about a related issue with the CommonFilesDir registry value, click the following article number to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

304907 OFFXP: Error 25510 for MSADOR15.DLL When You Run Setup

Modification Type:MinorLast Reviewed:2/16/2006
Keywords:kbtshoot kbsetup kbprb KB304901
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