XL2002: Excel Stops Responding When You Copy and Paste an Object Between Workbooks

When you copy an object (such as a picture) from one workbook, and then paste the object into another workbook, Microsoft Excel 2002 may stop responding, or you may receive the following error message: If you select Click Here, a second dialog box opens, which contains the following information about the error:

This behavior occurs if all the following conditions are true:

• You copy an object from a workbook.
  
  -and-
• You paste the object into a workbook that has different encryption settings.
  
  -and-
• The source workbook is open when you paste the object into the other workbook.
  
  -and-
• The source and destination workbook are open in different instances of Excel.

This behavior can occur when you copy objects between unencrypted and encrypted workbooks, or between encrypted workbooks with different encryption types or keys.

To work around this issue, use one of the following methods when you copy objects between workbooks with different encryption settings.

Method 1: Close the Source Workbook

1. Copy the object.
2. Close the source workbook.
3. Select the destination workbook, and then click Paste on the Edit menu.

Method 2: Open Both Workbooks in One Instance of Excel

1. Save and close any workbooks in the extra instance (or instances) of Excel.
2. Quit the extra instance (or instances) of Excel.
3. Open the workbooks from within the remaining instance of Excel.
4. Copy the object, click the name of the other workbook on the Window menu, and then click Paste on the Edit menu.

Microsoft has confirmed that this is a problem in the Microsoft products that are listed at the beginning of this article.