Excel does not start MS Query

[Guest]

On my PC running MS Excel 2000 under Win XP I used to be able to use MS Query
through "Data -> Get external data -> New databse query (or edit data)".

Now when I try to access data vis Query the program freezes with a message
bottom left "Getting external data".

I have substituted copies of MSQRY32.EXE and QRYINT32.DLL from the working
to the not-working computer, but there was no change.

Have you any suggestions, please?

 

[Nick Hodge]

Try a detect and repair (You will need the installation disks). It may be a
corrupt ODBC driver

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

 

[Guest]

Thanks Nick.

I ran "Detect and repair" form MS Excel. After a long time churning away it
gave the error message:

"Error 1328. Error applying C:\Config.Msi\PTAC.tmp This may have been
modified by other means and can no longer be modified by the patch. For more
information contact your patch vendor.
Retry Cancel Ignore"

I chose ignore and the process ran to a conclusion. On re-booting, however,
there was no change. The message in Excel still said "Waiting for data to be
returned from Microsoft Query ..."

What is Config.MSI\PTAC.tmp and could this be the cause of my problem?

 

[Nick Hodge]

Richard

Sounds a little strange. Check out all you temp folders, they may be hidden
and delete everything in these, then try a re-run. If that fails again, try
a re-install over the top. This is really what detect and repair does, so I
suspect you will get the same error

If this fails, think carefully if you added any programs/updates, etc
recently...anything that may have changed...hardware, drivers and uninstall
that, if it's less important than Excel and see if that works.

Lastly try looking for a file called *.xlb (it may be called excel.xlb or
some other name so use *), this is the toolbar customisation file. It's a
real long shot as I have not seen it interfere with msquery, but delete it
and re-start excel. Excel creates a new one when it can't find it, but any
customising of built-in toolbars will be gone.

Lastly, remove to another location anything in you xlStart folder (again,
may be hidden) and try a re-start

If all this fails, I think you may be down to an un-install/re-install
situation

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