XL7: Illegal Operation in KERNEL32.DLL

• Microsoft Excel for Windows 95, version 7.0

IMPORTANT: This article contains information about editing the registry. Before you edit the registry, you should first make a backup copy of the registry files (System.dat and User.dat).

SYMPTOMS

When you start Microsoft Excel version 7.0, when you click details, a message similar to the following appears:

   Excel caused an invalid page fault in module KERNEL32.DLL
   at 014f:bff858cd.

CAUSE

This error message can be caused by corruption in the initialization files located in the registry or by setting the "Alternate Startup File Location" under the Tools menu - Options - General Tab, to the same location where Excel is installed.

This problem may also occur if a shortcut to the Microsoft Excel executable (Excel.exe) is located in the Xlstart directory, or in the "Alternate Startup File Location" directory.

RESOLUTION

Before attempting to edit the registry, make sure that there are no shortcuts to the Microsoft Excel executable, Excel.exe, located in the Xlstart directory (C:\Msoffice\Excel\Xlstart, for example). If there are, remove them; then, try to launch Microsoft Excel.

For information about how to edit the registry, view the Changing Keys And Values online Help topic in Registry Editor (Regedit.exe). Note that you should make a backup copy of the registry files (System.dat and User.dat) before you edit the registry.

WARNING: Using Registry Editor incorrectly can cause serious problems that may require you to reinstall Windows 95. Microsoft cannot guarantee that problems resulting from the incorrect use of Registry Editor can be solved. Use Registry Editor at your own risk.

If this error message is encountered with the same memory offset, and you did set the "Alternate Startup File Location" to the same directory where Microsoft Excel is installed, use the following steps to resolve the problem. Be aware that Microsoft Excel will go to into a default state. That is, any environment settings, add-ins, or alternate startup directories will need to be reset.

1. Exit Microsoft Excel.

2. On the Windows Start menu, click Run.

3. In the Open box, type "regedit", without quotation marks. Click OK.

4. Click on the HKEY_CURRENT_USER folder. Click the Software folder, then click the Microsoft folder, and then the click the Excel folder.

5. Use the right mouse button to click the name section of the 7.0 folder.

6. Choose Rename from the shortcut menu. Rename the folder to 70.old.

7. On the Registry menu, click Exit.

8. Restart Microsoft Excel.

1. Exit Microsoft Excel.

2. On the Windows Start menu, click Run.

3. In the Open box, type "regedit", without quotation marks. Click OK.

4. On the Edit menu, click Find. In the "Find What" box, type "AltStartup" without quotation marks, and click Find Next. Ensure that the open folder in the left pane of the editor says "Microsoft Excel".

5. Right-click on the label "AltStartup" and click Modify. Clear the contents of the Value Data edit box so that it is empty.

6. Click OK.

7. On the Registry menu, click Exit.

8. Restart Microsoft Excel.