MS Excel 365 sometimes won't start

Page 2 of 2 FirstFirst 12

  1. Posts : 149
    Dual boot windows 10 Pro 22H2 & Win 11 Pro 23H2
    Thread Starter
       #11

    Caledon Ken said:
    When you say database you mean workbooks or spreadsheets, right?
    Yes, sorry, old terminology!
    I've done (this morning) a complete reinstall of Office, and so far so good, but it's an intermittent problem, so I'll need to go a few days before I'm convinced! I could restore a backup from just before the Fall Update, and use 1703 for a few more months to see what happens, so there are plenty of options. I do a full backup twice weekly and keep the last 20, so I have plenty to choose from!
      My Computer


  2. Posts : 30,187
    Windows 11 Pro x64 Version 23H2
       #12

    You are way ahead of most members. Post back what happens.
      My Computer


  3. Posts : 149
    Dual boot windows 10 Pro 22H2 & Win 11 Pro 23H2
    Thread Starter
       #13

    Well that theory didn't last long. First time I ran excel, which was to open it in safe mode directly from the start menu, it failed 8 times. I wonder what the significance is with 8?
    I think I'll leave it a while and see if there's a windows update next week or at some future time. As I said, it doesn't cause any real issues, but it's annoying that I seem alone with this, and I can't eliminate it.

    MS Excel 365 sometimes won't start-excel4.jpg
      My Computer


  4. Posts : 5,833
    Dual boot Windows 10 FCU Pro x 64 & current Insider 10 Pro
       #14

    Hi there, @skcusime.

    I've been using Office since 2000 Pro, so have a little experience at it. Every now and then certain machines have problems either caused by OS or Office update. Sometimes difficult to find which. In your case it looks like the FCU update botched Office. It's usually the Click-to-Run Extensibility Component that can't change certain protected system Registry keys. I see it ran in your Reliability list. It'll most likely be an Office update that will fix the problem.

    The "magic 8" times open/fail is a mystery to me. Never saw that one before. Interesting.

    A few questions if you want to continue:

    Does this happen with other Office programs or just Excel?

    By any chance have you changed from 32 bit to 64 bit at any time?

    Does opening just the Office program by itself quicker than opening a file?

    I see you uninstalled/reinstalled. Have you tried the repair option? Settings app > Apps > Left click MS Office > Modify > Yes to UAC > Online repair. If that doesn't fix it, most likely nothing will. However, there is a way to uninstall that component for a time, but I don't recommend that.

    BTW, uninstalling/reinstalling sometimes causes more problems than helps. It causes Registry key problems. I recommend always using the repair option and reboot.

    There's been a new problem that has arisen that they need to fix. Not all systems, but, believe it or not, Cortana causes issues. Just for grins try turning it off if you have it enabled. Settings app > Cortana > Talk to Cortana > Turn off "Let Cortana respond to "Hey Cortana" > Reboot.
      My Computers


  5. Posts : 149
    Dual boot windows 10 Pro 22H2 & Win 11 Pro 23H2
    Thread Starter
       #15

    Hello HippsieGypsie,
    It only happens with Excel, although I usually only use Excel, Outlook & Word. I have tried all the others in the Office package, just to see, and they all worked, but so does Excel most of the time.
    I use a 64 bit version of Windows, but a 32 bit version of Office. No changes.
    I've done the quick repair and the long online repair, which seems like a re-install with the need to re-sign in at the end.
    I've never used Cortana and it's turned off.
    It now about 7am, and i left the computer on all night (it's usually off) and have had no problems this morning so far. Excel is usually one of the first programs run each day, and of late i'm careful to make sure it's had time to finish it's bootup before trying anything.
    Yesterday, after a reboot, I tried running it in safe mode but it happened then too. So that eliminates any addins (i don't have any) but it seems the first run after a boot is the most likely to fail.
      My Computer


  6. Posts : 5,833
    Dual boot Windows 10 FCU Pro x 64 & current Insider 10 Pro
       #16

    Ok, skcusime. Hopefully they release something soon. Good luck to you. :)
      My Computers


  7. Posts : 149
    Dual boot windows 10 Pro 22H2 & Win 11 Pro 23H2
    Thread Starter
       #17

    I've spent the morning trying different scenarios.
    It seems to happen consistently on the first run following a startup or reboot (i hadn't pinpointed that before). After that, subsequent runs, either from the start menu or opening a workbook excel opens okay.
    I've tried a registry change as per https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/...r-cannot-start - didn't make any difference.
    I've tried running in safe mode and running as administrator - both failed.
    I've disabled hardware acceleration - didn't work.
    All other Office programs work as they should.

    MS Excel 365 sometimes won't start-excel5.jpg

    So today I've rebooted 5 times and I'm now up to 40 errors - exactly 8 times for each try. Consistent - happens on first run after a boot and happens exactly 8 times!
      My Computer


  8. Posts : 149
    Dual boot windows 10 Pro 22H2 & Win 11 Pro 23H2
    Thread Starter
       #18

    Well, way too early to be 100% sure, but it appears this whole saga was caused by Malwarebytes. I turned it off yesterday and Excel worked after a boot without problems, and loaded very quickly. I've now turned Malwarebytes on again, but set an exception for Excel. It appears to be working - so far so good.
      My Computer


  9. Posts : 5,833
    Dual boot Windows 10 FCU Pro x 64 & current Insider 10 Pro
       #19

    That's great news. Who'd of thought. Hopefully that does it for you. Good luck. :)
      My Computers


 

  Related Discussions
Our Sites
Site Links
About Us
Windows 10 Forums is an independent web site and has not been authorized, sponsored, or otherwise approved by Microsoft Corporation. "Windows 10" and related materials are trademarks of Microsoft Corp.

© Designer Media Ltd
All times are GMT -5. The time now is 08:31.
Find Us




Windows 10 Forums