Excel is locking up when I try to open files.

[Guest]

I keep having excel lock up whenever I try to do almost anything. The only
think I seem to be able to do is click on a file that recently was used in
the FILE drop down screen. If I try to save as another name or almost
anything else the application simply does not respond.

 

[garfield-n-odie [MVP]]

See http://support.microsoft.com/kb/918165 "Problems in Windows
Explorer or the Windows shell after you install security update
MS06-015".

 

[Guest]

After entering the Registry Editor suggested change to DWORD, I was unable to
open office data files using "File" "Open"--the applications still froze up.
What now?

 

[garfield-n-odie [MVP]]

larryws, did you restart Windows after modifying the registry?

 

[Guest]

Don't you think it is unrealistic to expect maybe 20 million users to edit
their own registries? I'm not even sure what a registry is, so where does
this leave me and most of those 20 million others? My computer is useless
for many tasks right now and I am not happy. I looked at your "fix" but
frankly am afraid of really screwing something up if I try it and don't get
it just right. Does Microsoft expect that I now will go hire a professional
to correct the screwup that Microsoft's update caused? What if I go into
add/remove programs and remove the update? I would rather have a less
secure, but operable, computer than the one you have left me with. If
Microsoft does not intend to provide an automatic update patch or fix, please
let me know. This is really a mess.

 

[garfield-n-odie [MVP]]

jimRCas,

First, you seem a bit lost, because you posted your own similar
thread in another newsgroup, and received a reply to your
question there. You couldn't be bothered to reply to the person
who tried to help you, yet you are now here spewing your BS into
someone else's thread?

Second, your tirade is misdirected. Like most of the people who
answer questions in these newsgroups, I'm a MS Office user who
volunteers time here trying to help other fellow MS Office users.
I don't work for Microsoft, and I didn't do a damned thing to
your computer, so you can FOAD if you don't like my suggestion,
which was not addressed to you to begin with. And did you pull
the "20 million users" statistic out of the same orifice where
your head is obviously lodged?

Third, for people who aren't comfortable with editing the
registry, at least two websites mentioned elsewhere in these
newsgroups offer free downloadable scripts that will
automatically perform the registry modification described in
KB918165. As far as registry modifications go, this one is about
as easy as they get: one key, one value. If you prefer to hire a
professional, that's YOUR decision.

 

[Nick Hodge]

JimRCas

A few things need to be noted here

1) Few (none) of the people on these newsgroups 'work' for MS, they just try
to help other users (peer to peer). MVPs, if I speak for them are VERY vocal
when MS does something wrong...you have to believe me!

2) The issue revolves around shell extensions of *third party vendors
products*, which MS do not know about. In this case it is many, but
particularly HP share to web functionality. The fix at
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/918165

Now includes the fact that many vendors have now posted updates to *their*
software

3) Dilemma.... leave a vunerability on the worlds systems or lock it down
and get the vendors to react to correct their software... I know where most
IT professionals would be on this

--
HTH
Nick Hodge
Microsoft MVP - Excel
Southampton, England
www.nickhodge.co.uk
(e-mail address removed)

 

[Guest]

garfield:
Needed or not I "Restart" the computer when such a change is made. I have
already uninstalled SP2 and got my MS Office applications back in working
order. Also stopped automatic updates until Microsoft comes up with patch(s)
to restore functionality of the applications brought down by installing SP2.

 

[Nick Hodge]

Larry

Why have you instaled SP2? That wasn't in the kb article

--
HTH
Nick Hodge
Microsoft MVP - Excel
Southampton, England
www.nickhodge.co.uk
(e-mail address removed)

 

[Nick Hodge]

Should read un-installed SP2

--
HTH
Nick Hodge
Microsoft MVP - Excel
Southampton, England
www.nickhodge.co.uk
(e-mail address removed)

 

[Guest]

Thanks for your explanation. I eventually found a patch posted by "Freudi"
and it worked as advertised. I had never been on the Microsoft discussion
group site before and you are correct in that I thought MVP's must work for
Microsoft. Even so, I didn't think what I said was a tirade, just an
expression of frustration, and I certainly didn't use acronyms for
vulgarities. To give you an idea of how inexperienced I am at this, I spent
well over an hour just finding this thread again. As garfield-n-odie said, I
was lost. Anyhow, I have learned my lesson and will stay off the site in the
future. It is clearly meant for techies, not me. Thanks again.

 

[Nick Hodge]

Jim

I hope I didn't send you away...these groups probably benefit people like
you more than anyone and it is precisely why they exist. You are very
welcome here

--
HTH
Nick Hodge
Microsoft MVP - Excel
Southampton, England
www.nickhodge.co.uk
(e-mail address removed)