MXL5: Troubleshooting Microsoft Excel 5.0 for the Macintosh

ID: Q124635

The information in this article applies to:
  • Microsoft Excel for the Macintosh, version 5.0

SUMMARY

The following information describes how to troubleshoot problems that you encounter while running Microsoft Excel 5.0 for Macintosh.

MICROSOFT EXCEL FOR THE POWER MACINTOSH

If you are having problems running Microsoft Excel 5.0 for the Power Macintosh and you have run the Microsoft Excel Setup program without receiving an error message, use one of the following methods to correct the problems:
  1. Turn on Virtual Memory.

    For additional information, please see the following articles in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:
    Q120506 How Virtual Memory Works on a Power Macintosh
    Q120257 Error Messages That Appear When Starting Excel on PowerMac
    Note that you can also use Connectix RAM Doubler version 1.5 or later as a substitute for Virtual Memory. Make sure that your computer has at least 20 megabytes (MB) of total memory if you are using Virtual Memory or Connectix RAM Doubler or 17 MB of memory if you are not using Virtual Memory or Connectix RAM Doubler.


  2. Move the PPC Registration Database, Registration Database, and Embedding Preferences files from the Preferences folder in the System Folder to the desktop and Start Microsoft Excel again.


  3. Restart your Macintosh while holding down the SHIFT key to disable extensions. Note that this also disables OLE 2 functionality (OLE1 still works) any Microsoft Query drivers because they use the Shared Library Manager and virtual memory, which is required by Microsoft Excel. To selectively choose extensions that you want to enable or disable, use the Extensions Manager that is located in the Control Panels folder.

    NOTE: Restarting your computer while holding down the SHIFT key does not always disable every extension. To test for corrupted system files or eliminate all extensions, use a new System Folder.


  4. Use the following steps to build a clean system on the hard disk. If you boot off a Disk Tools disk, Microsoft Excel version 5.0 does not run.

    System Version 7.1.2
    ---------------------

    Floppy Disk:
    • Insert the "Disk Tools" disk that came with your Power Macintosh.


    CD-ROM:
    • Insert the "Disk Tools" disk that came with your Power Macintosh compact disc and do the following: F
      1. If you have System CD version 1.0, insert the CD at startup. If you have System CD version 2.0, insert the CD in the drive, and then start the computer while holding down the C key on the keyboard.


      2. Rename the old System Folder on the hard disk to another name, such as "System Folder old" (without the quotation marks.)


      3. Move the Finder from the old System Folder to a different folder outside of the System Folder (to disable the system on the hard disk).


      4. Copy the System Folder from the Disk Tools disk to the hard disk (at the same level as the old System Folder).


      5. Check the PPC enabler in the new System Folder. If it is titled "Minimum PPC Enabler" or "Minimum PPC Upgrade Card Enabler," press and hold down the OPTION key, and drag (to copy) the "PPC Enabler" or "PPC Upgrade Card Enabler" from the old System Folder to the new System Folder. Delete the "Minimum PPC Enabler" or "Minimum PPC Upgrade Card Enabler" files in the new System Folder.


      6. Press and hold down the OPTION key and drag the following files from the Extensions folder in the old System Folder to the Extensions folder in the new System Folder:
        Microsoft Dialog Library
        Microsoft OLE Automation
        Microsoft OLE Library
        ObjectSupportLib
        Type Libraries (if you are testing module sheets or OLE1)
        Visual Basic for Applications


      7. Press and hold down the OPTION key and drag the Memory control panel from the old System Folder to the new System Folder.


      8. Open the new System Folder, and then close it again. A Macintosh icon should appear on the new System Folder.


      9. Restart your Macintosh computer. If you receive an error message that indicates that the system should be run only from a floppy disk, you didn't copy the full enabler (versus the minimal enabler) to the new System Folder.


      You should be able to run Microsoft Excel version 5.0 for the Power Macintosh as long as none of the listed files that you copied are damaged.

      For more information about booting your Macintosh from the system CD, see the following article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:
      Q120099 Booting a Power Macintosh from the System CD


    System Versions 7.5 and above
    ------------------------------

    See the following article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:
    Q127033 How to Do a Clean Installation of System 7.5 and Above


MICROSOFT EXCEL FOR THE MACINTOSH

If you are having problems running Microsoft Excel 5.0 for the Macintosh after you ran the Setup program with no problems, use one of the following methods to correct the problem:
  1. Restart your Macintosh while holding down the SHIFT key to disable extensions. Note that this also disables OLE 2 functionality (OLE1 still works) and any Microsoft Query drivers because they use the Shared Library Manager.


  2. Move the Registration Database and Embedding Preferences files from the Preferences folder in the System Folder to the desktop.


  3. Rebuild the Desktop file by restarting your computer while holding down COMMAND+OPTION until the Finder asks whether the Desktop should be rebuilt. Click Yes, and then release the COMMAND and OPTION keys.


  4. To disable Connectix RAM Doubler for testing purposes, restart your Macintosh while holding down the TILDE key (~).


  5. Perform a clean boot by building a new System Folder on the hard drive. Note that you cannot run Microsoft Excel if you have booted off a Disk Tools disk because Setup copies many needed files to the Extensions folder in the System Folder. To perform a clean boot, follow these steps:
    1. Insert the Disk Tools disk and restart your computer.


    2. Open the System Folder on the hard disk and drag the Finder file to a different folder outside of the System Folder.


    3. Rename the System Folder to another name, such as "System Folder old" (without the quotation marks.)


    4. Copy the System Folder from the Disk Tools disk to your hard disk.


    5. Copy the Type Libraries folder from the Extensions folder in the old System Folder to the Extensions folder in the new System Folder.


    6. Restart your Macintosh computer.




You should be able to run Microsoft Excel for the Macintosh as long as none of the listed files that you copied to the floppy disk were damaged.

CANNOT INSTALL MICROSOFT EXCEL (FOR THE MACINTOSH OR THE POWER MACINTOSH)

If you are having problems installing Microsoft Excel 5.0, follow these steps:
  1. Restart your computer while holding down the SHIFT key.


  2. If the Setup program is reporting a problem accessing a particular file, copy the cabinet file from the Setup disk to your hard disk to test whether you can copy files from the disk. If this procedure fails, you may have a damaged disk and you may need to order a new set of Microsoft Excel Setup disks.


  3. If there is an existing Microsoft Excel Setup Data file, move the Registration Database file (located in the Preferences folder of the System Folder) to the desktop, and run Setup again to avoid running Setup in maintenance mode. If you have previously run Setup, the Registration Database file references the existing Microsoft Excel Setup Data file.


OTHER APPLICATIONS WON'T RUN AFTER INSTALLING MICROSOFT EXCEL/OFFICE OR THE SYSTEM CRASHES WHEN STARTING COMPUTER

The following four extensions (along with other supporting files) affect other programs or extensions:
Microsoft OLE Extension (from Microsoft)
Microsoft Office Manager (Office Only - from Microsoft)
Shared Library Manager (from Apple)
Apple Event Manager (from Apple)
To troubleshoot booting issues after you install Microsoft Excel or Microsoft Office, follow these steps:
  1. Restart your Macintosh computer while holding down the SHIFT key to disable all extensions.


  2. Disable Connectix RAM Doubler. If you installed this optional item restart your Macintosh computer while holding down the TILDE key (~).


  3. Remove one of the four files listed in this section (in the order shown above.)


  4. Restart your Macintosh computer after you remove each file to see if your computer starts.


  5. If your computer starts after you remove one of these files, either that extension is damaged (not likely right after running Setup) or another extension is conflicting with the one that you removed.


To troubleshoot another program that is not starting or that is not performing correctly after you have installed Microsoft Excel or Microsoft Office, follow steps 2 through 4 above, starting the program in question until it works properly.

If an program or extension begins working correctly AFTER you remove either the Apple Event Manager or the Shared Library Manager, but the program still has problems you AFTER remove the Microsoft OLE Extension and Microsoft Office Manager, the program is conflicting with an extension that is created by Apple. You must contact your program vendor to see if there is an updated version of your program.

Additional query words: tshoot registry

Keywords : kbtshoot xlmac
Version : MACINTOSH:5.0
Platform : MACINTOSH
Issue type :


Last Reviewed: December 28, 1999
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