XL97: Upgrade Doesn't Migrate All Xlstart Files

• Microsoft Excel 97 for Windows

SYMPTOMS

After you upgrade an earlier version of Microsoft Excel to Excel 97 and run a macro from your Personal macro workbook (Personal.xls), the following error message appears:

   Personal.xls could not be found. Check the Spelling of the file name,
   and verify that the file location is correct.

CAUSE

This problem occurs when you do the following:

• You upgrade an earlier version of Excel to Excel 97.

      -and-
  

• You install Excel 97 into a folder that is different from the folder that contains the earlier version.

RESOLUTION

To resolve this problem, copy the Personal.xls file from the Xlstart folder, which is in the folder that contains the earlier version of Excel, to the following new folder:

   Program Files\Microsoft Office\Office\Xlstart

Method 1: Use Windows Explorer

1. In Windows Explorer, open the Xlstart folder in the folder that contains the earlier version of Excel, click the Personal.xls file, and then click Copy on the Edit menu.

2. Open the Excel 97 Xlstart folder and click Paste on the Edit menu to paste the file into the folder.

   By default the new Xlstart folder is located in the following folder

         C:\Program Files\Microsoft Office\Office\Xlstart
   

   unless you changed the destination folder for Excel 97 when you installed it.

Method 2: Use Excel 97

1. In Excel 97, open the Personal.xls file.

   NOTE: The file is hidden when you open it. To unhide the file, click Unhide on the Window menu.

2. Click Save As on the File menu. Open the new Xlstart folder.

   By default this folder is located in the following folder

         C:\Program Files\Microsoft Office\Office\Xlstart
   

   unless you changed the destination folder for Excel 97 when you installed it.

3. After you save the file, hide the workbook by clicking Hide on the Window menu. Quit Excel. When you are prompted to save changes in the Personal Macro Workbook, click Yes.

MORE INFORMATION

When you upgrade to Excel 97 and install it in a different folder than the folder that contains the earlier version of Excel, the Personal Macro Workbook (Personal.xls) is not moved to the new Xlstart folder for Excel 97. When you start Excel 97, the Unhide command on the Window menu is dimmed, which indicates that no hidden Personal.xls exists. If you have any macro or toolbar buttons that run macros that are stored in the Personal.xls workbook, the error message in the "Symptoms" section in this article appears.

NOTE: The only file that is moved from an existing Xlstart folder is the custom charts file, Xl5galry.xls.