Can't close Word/Excel/Power Point

[Tomislav]

Version: 2008
Operating System: Mac OS X 10.5 (Leopard)
Processor: Intel

Word, Excel and Power Point (I don't use Entourage) can not be closed through the Word/Excel or Power Point Menu "Close Word" - I have to do it through alt/Apple/esc. I have done for twice a Deinstallation and a new Installation, it has worked for a couple of hours and then the problem has araised once again. I supose that an another Application cause this problem but I don't have the ides how to proceed futher. Thank you.

 

[Diane Ross]

Word, Excel and Power Point (I don't use Entourage) can not be closed through
the Word/Excel or Power Point Menu "Close Word" - I have to do it through
alt/Apple/esc. I have done for twice a Deinstallation and a new Installation,
it has worked for a couple of hours and then the problem has araised once
again. I supose that an another Application cause this problem but I don't
have the ides how to proceed futher. Thank you.

Log out of your User. Under the Apple in the Menu bar select Log out.

When you log in, hold down the Shift key.

Open an Office application and try to quit. Does it work? If yes, then one
of your login items is conflicting.

 

[Tomislav]

Hallo Diane

Thank you for your help. You are in right, it works when I've done a "safety start" (althoug I'could not achieve a "safety start" with only log me out, I had to shut down the computer ans that turn it on with the shift key).
I don't have any start items in /Apple/Systemfeatures (Systemeinstellungen in german) /User/Start Items). In the Activity Display (Mac-HD/Applications/Dutyapplications/Activity display) I found a difference beetwen the "Safety Start" and "User star", the following applications are started when I log in with my user name and are not started when I do a "safety start": HP Event Handle, IntegoStatusItemHelper, mdworker, NetUpdateAgent, UserEventAgent. I don't now why this applications are started when I log in, I've never do anything to have it so. I supose, some of this applications prevent Word/power Point/Excell to quit properly. Do you have any idea how to proceed further ? Can the report that is automatically created when this error ocurrs and then send to apple help to solve the proble (i've a copy of this report as a word file). Thank you. With kindest regards. Tomislav

 

[Diane Ross]

On 10/18/09 2:17 PM, in article (e-mail address removed)9absDaxw,

Open System Preferences > User > Login items and remove those files. Some
applications will put them automatically in Login Items when you install.

The mdworker is associated with Spotlight so I'm not sure why it's in login
items.

Is Intego a virus software application? These are notorious for causing
problems. Personally, I don't use virus software but if you are exchanging a
lot of emails with Windows users, you might need it not to pass on a virus
to them.

 

[Tomislav]

Hallo Diane

thank you for your answer.

it seems that my reply that I wrote on the Oct 19 has been lost, otherweise it should be published here.
Regarding the login items, I don't have any items in System Preferences > User > Login items. I've find all this files in Mac-HD/Applications/Dutyapplications/Activity display (this is my translation of german terms Dienstprogramme/Aktivitätsanzeige). I've could close all the files directly in the Activity Display except the NetUpdateAgent, but it didn't help. So, I supouse the problem could be in the NetUpdateAgent which I could not close (I don't know why?). And you are in right, NetUpdateAgent is a part of the Intego Antivirus System that traces for software update.
Do you have any idea how to approach the problem further?
Thank you. Kindest regards.
Tomislav

 

[Bob Greenblatt]

Hallo Diane

thank you for your answer.

it seems that my reply that I wrote on the Oct 19 has been lost, otherweise it
should be published here.
Regarding the login items, I don't have any items in System Preferences > User
Mac-HD/Applications/Dutyapplications/Activity display (this is my translation
of german terms Dienstprogramme/Aktivitätsanzeige). I've could close all the
files directly in the Activity Display except the NetUpdateAgent, but it
didn't help. So, I supouse the problem could be in the NetUpdateAgent which I
could not close (I don't know why?). And you are in right, NetUpdateAgent is a
part of the Intego Antivirus System that traces for software update.
Do you have any idea how to approach the problem further?
Thank you. Kindest regards.
Tomislav

I did not follow the beginning of this thread, but I would suspect Intego
last. I have been using it for years, and have never had a problem. It has
remained solid as a rock through all the OS and Office updates.

 

[CyberTaz]

PMFJI, but one question that hasn't yet been addressed: What is your current
update level of Office & OS X? Make sure they're at 12.2.1 & 10.5.8
respectively. Even if OS X is at that level it might resolve the problem if
you fetch the 10.5.8 Combo Update from the Apple Downloads site & reapply
it. Repair disk Permissions after doing so then shut the Mac down for a
minute or two.

See if things improve once you power up. The Combo can be gotten from:

http://www.apple.com/downloads/macosx/apple/macosx_updates/macosx1058comboupdate.html

 

[Diane Ross]

Thank you for your help. You are in right, it works when I've done a "safety
start" (althoug I'could not achieve a "safety start" with only log me out, I
had to shut down the computer ans that turn it on with the shift key).

I think I overlooked that you did a Safe Boot rather than logging out of
your User and back in with shift key down to disable login items.

These are some of the items disabled on safe boot:

* Disables all fonts other than those in /System/Library/Fonts
* It moves to the Trash all font caches normally stored in
/Library/Caches/com.apple.ATS/(uid)/
* Disables all startup items and login items

More info on Safe Boot:
<http://support.apple.com/kb/HT1564>

1) Clear your font caches. Two utilities you can use are

FontNuke is Snow Leopard ready
<http://www.jamapi.com/pr/fn/>

Font Finagler. Download and run the application. First click the "Inspect
Font Cache Files" button, then the "Clean Font Cache Files" button. You must
then restart your Mac.

<http://homepage.mac.com/mdouma46/fontfinagler/>

2) If you use Snow Leopard, clear out older Microsoft fonts that have newer
versions installed by Snow Leopard.

Open Font Book. Select Validate fonts.

You'll notice a yellow "!" next to the ones with duplicates. (You could have
other fonts installed by other applications that are duplicates too). Open a
window so you can see the Font Book and the Microsoft fonts folder. Delete
the font in the Microsoft folder and you'll see the yellow "!" disappear in
Font Book.

 

[Tomislav]

Hello Diane

Thank you for your help.
I've clear the font caches with the Font Finagler but unfortunately, it didn't help, the problem is still the same. Then I've once again doen the "safe boot" and once again I could quit word without any problem. So, I think we are still going in the right direction that something is disturbing word, but the wuestion remains what.
The advice from CyberTaz regarding the 10.5.8 Combo Update I did't done yet because I checked with him if I've understood him correctly that I can/should do the 10.5.8. Compo Update without any risk to do harm although I am alredy updated on 10.5.8 (and Office on 12.2.1).
Thank you. With kindest regards.
Tomislav

 

[Tomislav]

Hallo Bob

Thank you for your help.

Probably you ar ein right, I also didn't have any problems until now either with my Mac or with the Intego, but it is so, when you have troubles, the antivirus applications are among the "usual suspects".

With kindest regards.

Tomislav

 

[Tomislav]

Hallo Cyber Taz

thank you for your help.

I'm currently updated on mac 10.5.8 and Office 12.2.1. Regarding your advice, did I understod you correctly: I can/should do the 10.5.8. Compo Update without any risk to do harm although I am alredy updated on Mac 10.5.8and Office on 12.2.1 ?

With kindest regards

Tomislav

 

[CyberTaz]

Correct -- You can apply the Combo without any more "risk" than usual when
applying an OS update. It will do a much better job of fixing what may be
wrong with the OS & upgrading its components than what Software Update
delivers. In fact, I just did this myself last week -- not because I needed
to, but because I wanted to retest for confirmation before recommending to
another user. As usual, however, it is always good practice that a backup be
done before any system updates... If you use Time Machine you should be fine
even in the very unlikely case that something should go wrong.

Regards |:>)
Bob Jones
[MVP] Office:Mac

 

[Diane Ross]

So, I think we are still going in the right direction that something is
disturbing word, but the wuestion remains what.

You'll need to check all the items disabled by Safe Boot and attack each one
if the combo updater does not fix your issues.

The advice from CyberTaz regarding the 10.5.8 Combo Update I did't done yet
because I checked with him if I've understood him correctly that I can/should
do the 10.5.8. Compo Update without any risk to do harm although I am alredy
updated on 10.5.8 (and Office on 12.2.1).

More info on using a combo updater and the different types of updaters used
by Apple.

<http://www.entourage.mvps.org/troubleshoot/combo.html>

 

[Tomislav]

Hallo Diane

The 10.5.8 Combo update didn't fix the issue.
How can I attack the disabled items by safe boot ? Through quit them by a click on the "aplication quit" red "star" in left uper corner ? Which panel by the user start is relevant (the options in the menu bar immediately left from the search/sptlight window): my processes, all processes or something else?
Thank you. With kindest regards.
Tomislav

 

[Tomislav]

Hallo CyberTaz

Unfortunately, 10.5.8 Combo Pdate didn't fix the issue. I'll try to attack the items disabled be "safety boot", I hope Diane will be able to tell me how to do this attack.

Thank you. Kindest regards.

Tomislav

 

[Tomislav]

Hallo CyberTaz

Unfortunately, 10.5.8 Combo Pdate didn't fix the issue. I'll try to attack the items disabled be "safety boot", I hope Diane will be able to tell me how to do this attack.

Thank you. Kindest regards.

Tomislav

 

[Diane Ross]

On 10/26/09 3:20 PM, in article (e-mail address removed)9absDaxw,

BTW, did we ever check to see if the problem existed in a new User?

Go to System Preferences --> Create a New User in Accounts. Switch to the
New User by logging out/in or use Fast User Switching. Test your problems in
this clean environment. If it fails there, then do the "Archive & Install".

Let me know what you find.

The 10.5.8 Combo update didn't fix the issue.

Your next step might be to "Archive & Install".

Archive and Install

1) Insert the Mac OS X Install Disc and double-click the Install Mac OS X
icon.

2) Follow the onscreen instructions. In the pane where you select the
destination disk, select your current Mac OS X disk (in most cases, it will
be the only one available).

3) Click Options. If you want to save your existing files, users, and
network settings, select ³Archive and Install,² and then select ³Preserve
Users and Network Settings.² If you want to erase everything on your
computer and reinstall Mac OS X, select ³Erase and Install.² You can¹t
recover erased data.

4) Click Continue.

5) Click Customize to select which parts of Mac OS X you¹d like to install,
or click Install to perform a basic installation (recommended).


Once the install has finished, your system will be at whatever level the
disk you have is. So if your Install DVD/CD disk is 10.5.0, that's what
version of OS will be on your Mac. You will need to download the appropriate
Combo Updater from Apple's site to restore the system to a higher version.
After you run the combo, allow Software Update to download and install any
additional updates.

How can I attack the disabled items by safe boot ? Through quit them by a
click on the "aplication quit" red "star" in left uper corner ? Which panel by
the user start is relevant (the options in the menu bar immediately left from
the search/sptlight window): my processes, all processes or something else?
Thank you. With kindest regards.

You just need to address each item disabled by Safe Boot. If the test above
with a new User works, it might be easier to move into the new User.

Starting up into Safe Mode does several things:

It forces a directory check of the startup volume.
It loads only required kernel extensions (some of the items in
/System/Library/Extensions).
In Mac OS X 10.3.9 or earlier, Safe Mode runs only Apple-installed startup
items (such items may be installed either in /Library/StartupItems or in
/System/Library/StartupItems; these are different than user-selected account
login items).
It disables all fonts other than those in /System/Library/Fonts (Mac OS X
10.4 or later).
It moves to the Trash all font caches normally stored in
/Library/Caches/com.apple.ATS/(uid)/ , where (uid) is a user ID number such
as 501 (Mac OS X 10.4 or later).
It disables all startup items and login items (Mac OS X 10.4 or later).

 

[Tomislav]

Hallo Diane

Thank you for your answer. That will be a very challenging "operation" for someone with very,very modest IT-knowledge as I am, but I'll do my best.
Before I start with it, one further question: Does it make sence that I create two new users for me: one with admin rights and the another one without admin rights. For a years ago somebody told me it could prevent problems, but I didn't try to do it because it seemed to much complicated for me at that time. Since than I've made some progression in the IT-knowledge, so now I feel comfortable to try something like that if it really brings an advantage.
Kindest regards

Tomislav

 

[Diane Ross]

Does it make sence that I create two new users for me: one with admin rights
and the another one without admin rights.

I don't see the advantage for a one-person-user on a computer.

Have you tried the "Archive & Install" yet? It's really not difficult or
time consuming. The last time I did it, the only thing I had to re-install
was my Microsoft keyboard software.

 

[Tomislav]

Hallo Diane

The "New User Account" unfortunately also didn't solve the problem.
So I will have to do the "Archive & Install". One question before I start this for me complex "therapy", you said " If I want to save my existing files, users, and network settings..." but you didn't mentioned the applications, does it mean that I'll have to reinstall all my aplications that I've on the Mac (I hope not because this would be a horror pure)?

Thank you. Kindest regards

Tomislav