Fix: Office Background Installation Ran into a Problem

The Office installer may suddenly stop and show the message “Background Installation Ran into a Problem” without giving much detail.  This error usually means that the Microsoft Office Click-to-Run service had a problem during the setup and could not finish installing Office in the background.

Error Notification

Most of the time, this happens because the stream.x86.x-none.dat file is broken—often caused by a download that got interrupted or damaged Office setup files. Other reasons include old registry keys left from earlier Office versions, problems with permissions, or important services like “Office ClickToRun” being blocked.

In this article, we will discuss different ways to solve this error.

1. Use Event Viewer to Review Microsoft Office Alerts

Sometimes, the error is caused by third-party Office Add-ins that interfere with Microsoft Office. When the error happens, details are saved in your event logs. By looking at Event Viewer, you can get a better idea of what’s going wrong.

  1. Click Start and type Event Viewer in the search bar. Right-click it and select Run as Administrator.
    Opening Event Viewer
  2. In Event Viewer, find Application and Service Logs and double-click on Microsoft Office Alerts. Here, you can read the event descriptions and see what’s specifically causing the error.
    Locating Microsoft Office Alerts
  3. If you see it’s a system-related error, click Start and search for cmd in the search bar. Right-click on it and select Run as Administrator.
    Opening Command Prompt
  4. Copy and paste the command below, then press Enter:
    sfc /scannow
    Copy-pasting Command

This should fix the problem. If the error is still there, try the next solution.

2. Repair Your Office Installation

Microsoft Office comes with a built-in repair tool that can automatically fix problems by repairing missing or damaged files.

  1. Click Start and open Apps & Features.
    Opening Apps & Features
  2. Select the Microsoft Office product that’s giving you trouble, then click Modify. This opens the repair window. Even if you click on a single app, like Microsoft Word, it will repair the whole Office suite.
    Modifying Microsoft Office
  3. The next steps depend on how Office was installed:
    • Click-to-Run:
      1. In the window that asks How would you like to repair your Office Programs, choose Online Repair.
      2. Click Repair to start fixing Office.
      Click-to-Run Repair
    • MSI-based:
      1. In the window that says Change your installation, select Repair.
      2. Click Continue to start the repair.
      MSI-based Repair
  4. Just follow the on-screen steps to finish the repair process. This should resolve most Office installation errors. If you’re still having problems, move to the next solution.

3. Update Microsoft Office

Sometimes, simply updating Office can resolve errors caused by old or corrupted files. Microsoft recommends keeping your Office products updated, especially if you’re using Office 2013 or newer.

  1. Click Start and open any Microsoft Office application, such as Microsoft Word.
    Opening Microsoft Word
  2. Click on Blank Document.
  3. Next, click File.
    Opening File Options
  4. Click Account (or Office Account if you’re using Microsoft Outlook).
    Navigating to Account Settings
  5. Choose Update Options > Update Now. If you don’t see the Update Now button, you might need to click Enable Updates first.
    Updating Microsoft Office

After updating, check if the problem is gone. If not, try the last solution.

4. Reinstall Microsoft Office

If none of the above worked, a clean reinstall can help. Here’s how you can completely remove Office and install it again.

  1. Click Start and open the Control Panel.
    Opening Control Panel
  2. Click Uninstall a program under the Programs section.
    Navigating to Uninstall a Program
  3. Type Office in the search bar. Then, right-click your Microsoft Office product and select Uninstall.
    Uninstalling Microsoft Office
  4. Install Office again from Your Account Page. This should finally solve your issue.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Kevin Arrows


Kevin Arrows is a highly experienced and knowledgeable technology specialist with over a decade of industry experience. He holds a Microsoft Certified Technology Specialist (MCTS) certification and has a deep passion for staying up-to-date on the latest tech developments. Kevin has written extensively on a wide range of tech-related topics, showcasing his expertise and knowledge in areas such as software development, cybersecurity, and cloud computing. His contributions to the tech field have been widely recognized and respected by his peers, and he is highly regarded for his ability to explain complex technical concepts in a clear and concise manner.