Ok you have heard this many times now but mine is slightly unique.

I get the same error when trying install the patches YOU MUST HAVE INSTALLED GHOST RECON etc

I don't have the Retail CD because I got a direct download from Ubisoft.com themselves, so what should I do?

Which version of Ghost Recon is this you are talking about? Ghost Recon or Ghost Recon Advanced Warfighter. This make it much easier to help you with your problem.

presuming you talk about graw
you only need patch 1.35, and
select d2d as the source, note, read instructions and click the boxes you need to, then you should be fine.

This was posted elsewhere too.

I had the same problem. I to did a download purchase of the game. Save tax money. LOL

I un-installed the game and then re-installed and then was able to successful patch and play it.

I have the retail version DVD patches do not find the game installed. Plays good without a disc for a game not installed on my machine. None of the patches will install. Same error. I removed and re-installed the game with the same result. Any ideas???

Again, which game do you have and is it a download ala D2D or something similar? GR, and GRAW/GRAW2 are vastly different beasts. If you cannot provide the version, we cannot provide help.

Retail version DVD GRAW2. Sorry forgot the GRAW2.

If you have Graw 2 and it is installed in the correct default drive ie your os drive, the game will auto update itself when you go online.
The Graw forum has a link at the top of this one.