Excel crashing when entering data

[Mike_Williams]

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

Dear forum

Excel crashes constantly when entering data. Im using a Macbook Pro, Excel from Office 2008 - the home and student edition - with all the latest Office updates and Leopard with all the latest updates

Every time I open an excel spreadsheet and enter more than one cell of information it crashes. On a few occasions a restart has allowed a couple of cells to be entered but then it crashes. I've tried the same files on another Mac running the most up to date Leopard OS - a Macbook- and seems to work OK, tried very old excel files created in Excel for Mac 2004 and these crash too. Seems to only happen on existing spreadsheets when I either add data or copy the data all its formatting and formulae to a new file (I do this regularly for spreadsheets which I just copy and update so I don't have to re-enter all the layout and formulae). I've opened a fresh new file and entered data and does not seem to happen when I use this approach but soon as I copy some data in it crashes. All the other office apps seem to be OK.

Ive tried removing the com.microsoft.Excel.plist and com.microsoft.office.plist files from my Library > Preferences... having closed all microsoft apps first along with removing Excel Toolbars in the preferences folder. After restart the spreadsheets still keep crashing.

Ive repaired disc permissions, dont have Disc Warrior so have not done that.

The error message report looks like

Microsoft Error Reporting log version: 2.0

Error Signature:
Exception: EXC_BAD_ACCESS
Date/Time: 2009-05-16 21:34:58 +1000
Application Name: Microsoft Excel
Application Bundle ID: com.microsoft.Excel
Application Signature: XCEL
Application Version: 12.1.7.090302
Crashed Module Name: MicrosoftComponentPlugin
Crashed Module Version: unknown
Crashed Module Offset: 0x00036c74
Blame Module Name: MicrosoftComponentPlugin
Blame Module Version: unknown
Blame Module Offset: 0x00036c74
Application LCID: 1033
Extra app info: Reg=en Loc=0x0409

before I run the uninstall and reinstall and all the updates was wondering if there are any suggestions on what I can do. The only work around I have discovered is if I restart and then open just Excel and not have any other apps open and the crashes don't then seem to occur.

Many thanks for any help

Mike

 

[CyberTaz]

It's unlikely that re-installing will correct the situation - especially
since you have success with the program with new files. It sounds to me that
your problem stems from one of several sources:

How much RAM do you have? Copying/Paste can be a very memory-intensive
operation. Based on your "workaround" that's what I'd check first. Even if
you have 2-4 MB installed some of it may be bad.

Also suggested by your workaround is that some other program/utility that
you normally run is interfering with Excel's operation. You don't indicate
what or how many programs you have open when the crashing occurs but the
fact that the problem goes away when they aren't running further indicates
that Excel isn't to blame.

Finally, the OS could be causing the problem. I'd suggest that you get the
10.5.7 Combo Update & apply that even if you've already applied what
Software Update delivered.

<http://www.apple.com/downloads/macosx/apple/macosx_updates/macosx1057combou
pdate.html>

On a related note ‹ if I understand your process ‹ why are you doing all the
copy/paste in the first place? There are far more efficient means of
accomplishing what you seem to be describing, such as using the Move or Copy
Sheet feature or creating a template to base new files on.

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

 

[JE McGimpsey]

before I run the uninstall and reinstall and all the updates was wondering if
there are any suggestions on what I can do. The only work around I have
discovered is if I restart and then open just Excel and not have any other
apps open and the crashes don't then seem to occur.

I seriously doubt that uninstalling and reinstalling Office & updates
will change anything. Mac apps just don't corrupt that frequently (as
opposed to preferences/support files, which you've already trashed and
recreated).

If you're restarting and not seeing the crashes with only XL open, I'd
start doing some troubleshooting by seeing which other apps need to be
open to cause the crash.