Windows – Can’t Install Any Office Product (Service Office Software Protection Platform Won’t Start)

From an articled that I downloaded years ago:

Essential first step: disable Window Search service (not stop, but disable).

Reboot

Delete all files in C:\ProgramData\Microsoft\Search\Data\Applications\Windows

Delete all files in C:\ProgramData\Microsoft\Search\Data\Temp

(these are hidden files, so be sure that hidden files are made visible)

Reboot

Start Window Search service (delayed start).

Reboot

(I'm not sure if the last reboots are really necessary, but I did it just in case).

Source: http://www.online-tech-tips.com/computer-tips/how-to-fix-microsoft-windows-search-indexer-stopped-w...

Having been through this myself, the steps are generally:

1. Set the service to log on as a different account that should have permissions, e.g. Local System Account as a test.

If the above succeeds, permissions are probably wrong in various locations:

• Registry key HKLM\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\OfficeSoftwareProtectionPlatform
• Folder %ProgramFiles%\Common Files\Microsoft Shared\OfficeSoftwareProtectionPlatform
• Folder %AllUsersProfile%\Microsoft\OfficeSoftwareProtectionPlatform.

Troubleshooting steps generally say to give the account in question (NETWORK SERVICE) "Full" permissions at these locations. I don't know if this is overkill.

Then of course change the service back to logging on with NETWORK SERVICE as it was originally (clear the password field).

2. If step #1 didn't work... well in my case it was anti-malware software interfering! After closing Malwarebytes software it worked immediately.