OFV.msi overview

The file OFV.msi is the installer package for Microsoft's Office File Validation (OFV) add‑in—a security feature 1^st introduced around April 2011. It’s offered through Windows Update (KB2501584) & ensures that incoming Office 97–2003 binary files (.doc, .xls, .ppt, etc.) are checked against a schema before opening, helping protect you from malformed or malicious documents.

📦 Why You Might Have It

• Windows Update Prompt: If you're using Office 2003, 2007 or 2010, Windows Update may have attempted to install this add‑in.
• Manual Extraction: It’s common to extract `OFV.msi` from a downloaded `OFV.CAB` in `C:\Windows\SoftwareDistribution\Download`, then run it manually when Update fails. This workaround is frequently suggested when Update errors occur (e.g., code 0x80240023).

✅ Choose What to Do

1. Do You Need It?

• If you regularly open older Office files, especially .doc/.xls/.ppt from untrusted sources, it's recommended to keep OFV for added protection.
• If you only use modern Office formats (.docx/.xlsx/.pptx) or never open old files, you may disable it.

2. To Install Manually

• Browse to `C:\Windows\SoftwareDistribution\Download`, search for `OFV.CAB`, extract `OFV.msi` & run it. Then retry Windows Update.

3. To Disable or Remove

• Uninstall via Control Panel or Settings.
• Or disable through Group Policy/Registry (e.g. setting `EnableOnLoad=0`).

🧭 TL;DR

• OFV.msi = Office File Validation installer.
• Improves security by pre-validating old Office file formats.
• Can be safely installed manually if Windows Update failed.
• Optional—only matters if you open legacy Office files.