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How to Repair Microsoft Excel

If you are getting messages like "Error in hidden module" or "undefined reference", see this page for the fix.  It is not a problem with an add-in or macro.  It is because Microsoft update has changed an Excel settings that is causing this problem.  The fix is simple.

If you are getting random Excel crashes, messages like "unspecified error", or especially when Excel is closing, these are an indication of a bad installation of Office.  The repair steps below will likely fix for you.

  • We have tracked some crashes related to having old versions of Excel installed.  Do the repair on all releases of Office you have, even if you are not using a particular release and just kept it installed.
  • Another cause we have found for random crashes are partially corrupt workbooks.  How do they get corrupt?  More ways than one to count. One we have noticed is corrupt workbooks made outside of Excel.  Sometimes they work fine. Sometimes they done.  The solution in this case is to realize it is workbook dependent.  Then, the solution is to create new workbooks.  And doing copying of sheets to a new workbook is not the solution. Do copy and paste special values, and recreate formulas and graphs.
  • The number one cause is still a bad or corrupt installation of Office, which the steps below provide solutions.

The simpliest way to repair Office is to:

  • Reboot First
  • Go to Add or Remove Programs.
  • Right click on your version of Office or Excel and do a repair.

If this fails, then first completely un-install office per these Microsoft instructions then re-install. Make certain you have your Microsoft ID and it lets you download the latest version.

If the message you are getting is an out of memory error or not enough resources, then most likely you have too many COM  (Not VBA/Excel add-ins) installed.   See memory problems for how to fix. More than two COM add-ins can cause such errors.

 


 


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