Restore button does not work

[GaryH]

Thanks in advance for any assistance.

I searched through the forum for this problem and found a couple of
threads related to it, but none had a definitive answer.

I have been having a problem in the last week or so, wherein the
Restore button in the upper right corner of the Excel dialog (not the
inner worksheet dialog) does not work correctly.

If Excel is maximized, clicking on Restore will minimize the dialog
onto the toolbar, leaving it only visible as a depressed button on the
toolbar. Clicking on this button does nothing. Right clicking on the
button shows a dialog containing the following options: Restore, Move,
Size, Minimize, Maximize,and Close.
- Restore is disabled.
- If I select Move or Size, I get a four-way arrow located in the lower
right corner of the screen, which does nothing.
- Minimize does nothing
-The only way to restore Excel is to right click, and select Maximize.


I notice that when the Excel dialog is maximized, and then Minimize is
clicked, the Excel button visible on the toolbar is NOT depressed. When
I click on the button, Excel is maximized again, as it should be.
Perhaps this is a clue?

Also, when I try the restore button in Word, it works perfectly.

Again, thanks for any assistance.

Gary

PS. I also thought it might be a virus, so I did a full system scan,
but Norton found nothing.

 

[Jim Rech]

I've seen this but only with Excel 95 (and Windows XP). I've found that
clicking a bit to the right of the normal place (literally between the
buttons) seems to be a workaround. I haven't researched this further
because I hardly ever use Excel 95.

 

[GaryH]

Thanks for the try, but it did not help. I tried to click between th
buttons, but it still minimizes the dialog

 

[Dave Peterson]

I've never seen this.

What happens if you just double click on the application's title bar? That
usually toggles between window and maximized. (and it might be an easier target
to hit).

And does it work differently if you rightclick on the icon on the taskbar?

 

[Earl Kiosterud]

Gary,

I don't have an answer for you, but wanted to mention this: What you're
referring to as a dialog is actually the entire Excel application window.
Dialogs are temporary windows (actually Userforms) that pop up when you've
asked for things like File - Save as, File - Print, etc.). The bar along
the bottom is the Windows task bar; it isn't a toolbar.

I mention these things because using help is more useful with the correct
terminology. And others have a better idea what you're referring to. Hope
this helps.

One thing that's always worth a try when Excel is acting up is Start - Run
excel.exe /regserver. Then start Excel normally and see how it's behaving.

Earl Kiosterud
mvpearl omitthisword at verizon period net

 

[GaryH]

First, thanks to both Dave and Earl;

Dave, I tried double-clicking on the title bar of the application
minimizes Excel. Right clicking on the icon on the Task Bar (sorry for
the earlier toolbar reference - I was frustrated!) brings up the
previously described menu selections.

Earl, I tried Start Run Excel.exe /regserver then started Excel - no
difference.

Gary

 

[Dave Peterson]

From someone who has never seen this and doesn't know what he's talking about:

It kind of sounds like a video display problem (where windows can't figure out
where the cursor is).

1. Maybe you could change the resolution and test it out.
2. Get a new video driver
3. Play around with the Performance (Hardware acceleration):
In windows 98, windows start button|control panel|settings|display applet
Settings Tab|Advanced Button
Performance tab

Whatever you do, write down what you have existing first. You'll be glad when
try so many things and can't remember what was there initially.

And heck, maybe it's a mouse problem--you're only using two things plus excel.

(You said you don't have the problem in Word--any problems with any other
application? If no, then that kind of ruins this whole post--but what do you
have better to do?)

Good luck,

 

[GaryH]

Thanks all, for the assistance.

The solution was to (as Earl partially mentioned) unregister the
reregister Excel.

I did this by
1) Start|Run, typing Excel.exe /Unregserver, then clicking run.
2) Start|Run, typing Excel.exe /Regserver, then clicking run.

This resets everything, but at least everything works as it is suppose
to work.

Again, thanks all for the assistance, and Happy Holidays!

Gar

 

[Gwalihir]

I am having the same problem: i.e., the "Restore" button now minimizes the Excel window, thus I am stuck with Excel either filling the screen or completely minimized. I can't get a click "between" the "Minimize" and "Restore" buttons, and double-clicking the header (obviously, when Maximized) simply minimizes.

Can I reset some sort of "Default" size for the "Restore" command? I haven't found a way listed, but am hoping someone knows where and how Excel defines what size window "Restore" will pull up each time...

 

[Gwalihir]

Yes! This worked for me as well.

Thanks for posting your solution!