run-time error 53 when starting Excel

B

Bernie.d

every time i start Excel i get this message, then i have
the choice to cancel, if i do, excel opens, or i can
choose to debug...as i have know idea how to debug...what
should i do, your help would be great...thanks in advance
 
H

Hank Scorpio

every time i start Excel i get this message, then i have
the choice to cancel, if i do, excel opens, or i can
choose to debug...as i have know idea how to debug...what
should i do, your help would be great...thanks in advance

Error 53 is "File Not Found". This suggests that when you start Excel
you have a workbook loading which runs a macro upon opening. That
macro is looking for a file that doesn't exist.

The workbooks that load upon startup will be in one of two places:
- Either in a folder called xlStart, the location of which will vary
from version to version (you can find it through the Find or Search
application on the Start menu of Windows); or
- In any folder that you have specified under Tools -> Options ->
General. (The name of the field containing the folder will be
different in different versions of Excel; it's always wise to specify
which version you're using when posting a question. In Excel XP (2002)
it's "At startup, open all files in:" In 97, I think it's called
"Alternate Startup File Location". You may have nothing in there (most
people don't), in which case don't worry about it.)

Using Windows Explorer, move all of the files in those directories to
somewhere else. Now start Excel, and open them one at a time until you
get the error. That's the culprit. All you need to do is put all of
your other files back except for that one.

There's also a possibility that the error is being triggered by an
add-in. Go to Tools -> Add-Ins and uncheck each entry that you see
there. Close and reopen Excel, then try loading the add-ins back.
Again, this will help you find the one that you should leave out.
 
J

Jan Karel Pieterse

Hi,

This is a default list of things-to-do when Excel exhibits
startup problems.

Try opening Excel without any addins or hidden workbooks:

Start, Run,
"C:\Program Files\Microsoft
Office\Office\Excel.exe" /Automation

Quotes mandatory, Note you may have to change the path.

If your error disappears, there is either an add-in or a
(hidden) workbook that is loaded upon XL's start, which
bothers you.

- Try locating the XLSTART directory, move everything from
there.
- In XL: Tools, Addins, note the ones checked and uncheck
them one at the time, each time restarting XL
- In XL, Tools, options, general. Check if a path is
entered after "Alternate startup file location". Clear it.

Another option is to open XL in Safe mode:

"C:\Program Files\Microsoft Office\Office\Excel.exe" /Safe

Also, you might try:

"C:\Program Files\Microsoft
Office\Office\Excel.exe" /Regserver

Yet another possible problem is a corruption of your
toolbar customisation file. Locate all files with
extension .xlb and rename the extension(s) to something
like .old
Now try and start XL again.

Also, NAV has shown to cause "Excel caused an invalid page
fault in module VBE6.DLL".
You might try disabling the Office plug in of NAV.

Other causes may be a full TEMP folder:

In Windows 95/98 and ME

Delete all files in C:\Windows\Temp

In Windows NT/2000/XP

Find and Select C:\Documents and Settings\<user>\local
settings\temp
and delete all files in there.

They are often left behind by installing programs but
Excel needs the space.

This is what MS has to say about startup problems:

http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-
us;Q280504

And this about startup switches:

http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=KB;en-
us;q211481

Regards,

Jan Karel Pieterse
Excel TA/MVP
 

Ask a Question

Want to reply to this thread or ask your own question?

You'll need to choose a username for the site, which only take a couple of moments. After that, you can post your question and our members will help you out.

Ask a Question

Top