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XL: Unexpected Behavior or Error Messages When You Start or Work with an Excel File or Object

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This article was previously published under Q327764
IMPORTANT: This article contains information about modifying the registry. Before you modify the registry, make sure to back it up and make sure that you understand how to restore the registry if a problem occurs. For information about how to back up, restore, and edit the registry, click the following article number to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:
256986� (http://support.microsoft.com/kb/256986/EN-US/ ) Description of the Microsoft Windows Registry

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Symptoms

You may experience one or more of the following unexpected behaviors when you try to start or work with a file or object in Excel:
  • You receive an error message similar to one of the following when you try to start Excel:
    File format is not valid
    -or-
    Excel.exe caused an invalid page fault in module mso9.dll.
  • Multiple workbook files open when you start Excel.
  • Toolbars are not displayed correctly, or menus are missing.
  • When you try to paste an Excel object into another program (such as WordPad), you receive an error message similar to the following:
    Failed to create object. Check to see that program is registered.

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Cause

This behavior may occur if registry entries for earlier or later versions of Excel conflict with registry entries for the version of Excel that you are currently running. This condition exists because an earlier or later version of Excel was previously installed on your computer.

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Resolution

To resolve this behavior, rename the registry entries for the earlier or later versions of Excel. To do so, follow these steps.

Step 1: Determine the Version of Excel That You Are Running

  1. On the Help menu in Excel, click About Microsoft Excel.

    The version of Excel that you are currently running is displayed in the About Microsoft Excel dialog box.
  2. Quit Excel.

Step 2: Rename the Conflicting Excel Registry Subkeys

Registry entries for Excel are located in subkeys that correspond to the version, as shown in the following table:

   Excel Version      Subkey Name
   ------------------------------
   97                 8.0
   2000               9.0
   2002               10.0
In the steps that follow, you will rename the following subkeys for the earlier or later versions of Excel, where Subkey Name is the subkey that represents the version of Excel:
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Office\Subkey Name\Excel
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Office\Subkey Name\Excel
For example, if you are currently running Excel 2002, you will rename any Excel subkeys that appear in the 8.0 and 9.0 subkeys (if present). If you are currently running Excel 2000, you will rename the Excel subkeys that appear in the 8.0 and 10.0 subkeys (if present). To rename the subkeys, follow these steps.

WARNING: If you use Registry Editor incorrectly, you may cause serious problems that may require you to reinstall your operating system. Microsoft cannot guarantee that you can solve problems that result from using Registry Editor incorrectly. Use Registry Editor at your own risk.
  1. Click Start, and then click Run.
  2. In the Open box, type regedit, and then click OK.
  3. In Registry Editor, locate and then click the following registry key:
    HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Office
  4. Click the subkey that corresponds to the earlier or later version of Excel (for example, click 8.0).
  5. Right-click the Excel subkey, and then click Rename.
  6. Type OldExcel, and then press ENTER.
  7. Repeat steps d through f to rename any other subkeys for earlier or later versions of Excel.
  8. Locate and then click the following registry key:
    HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Office.
  9. Click the subkey that corresponds to the earlier or later version of Excel (for example, click 8.0).
  10. Right-click the Excel subkey, and then click Rename.
  11. Type OldExcel, and then press ENTER.
  12. Repeat steps i through k to rename any other subkeys for earlier or later versions of Excel.
  13. Quit Registry Editor.

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More information

For additional information about how to troubleshoot a similar issue, click the article number below to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:
323216� Cannot Start Excel and Open a Workbook by Double-Clicking the .xls File

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Keywords: KB327764, kbprb, kberrmsg

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Article Info
Article ID : 327764
Revision : 5
Created on : 2/1/2007
Published on : 2/1/2007
Exists online : False
Views : 297