Microsoft KB Archive/121278

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Updating Links to Microsoft Excel Document Causes GP Fault

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Q121278

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The information in this article applies to:


 * Microsoft Office Assistant for Windows, version 1.0
 * Microsoft Office for Windows, version 4.3
 * Microsoft PowerPoint for Windows, version 4.0
 * Microsoft Word for Windows, version 6.0a

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SYMPTOMS
When you update the links to a Microsoft Excel version 5.0 document, you may receive one of the following error messages:

Application Error

Excel caused a General Protection Fault in module EXCEL.EXE at 00B8:20c7

Excel caused a General Protection Fault in POWERPNT.DLL at 00B9:01d4

This problem may occur if you are using the OABPLAN.DOC Microsoft Word document, or the OAWHATIF.PPT Microsoft PowerPoint slide, included in the Office Assistant that ships with Microsoft Office version 4.3.

These symptoms can also occur if you are trying to open a Microsoft Word document that has to update links to Microsoft Excel. You will get the General Protection Fault in EXCEL.EXE as stated above. The cause may be a WinFax Pro file (msexcel5.xls) in the XLSTART directory. WinFax Pro is manufactured by Delrina.

Note that if you attempt to reregister applications, OLE errors may occur until you launch the server application.

MORE INFORMATION
The error occurs when Microsoft PowerPoint version 4.0 or Microsoft Word version 6.0a attempts to re-establish the links to a Microsoft Excel version 5.0 document that contains an embedded chart. The updating link status bar in the dependent application appears to increase and then results in one of the GP Fault errors stated above.

The presence of msexcel5.xls usually implies the presence of another Winfax macro called msexcel4.xlm. This macro produces errors in OLE when Microsoft Excel version 5.0 is the server application. Notably, deselecting a Microsoft Excel version 5.0 worksheet object and attempting to delete it from within the OLE client application may cause the Save As dialog box to be displayed.

WORKAROUND
To work around this problem, try any of the following.


 * Reregister OLE2.REG, WINWORD6.REG, and EXCEL5.REG by double-clicking each of these files in File Manager.

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 * If the error occurs while you are using the files from Microsoft Office Assistant, you can prevent the error by opening Microsoft Excel before you attempt to open the OAWHATIF.PPT and OABPLAN.DOC files.

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 * If the error occurs and you have WinFax Pro installed, remove the file msexcel5.xls from the XLSTART directory. When you try to update the links now, it works fine. You can follow the workarounds and make sure that you have Microsoft Excel open. This allows the links to update properly. Rebuilding the REG.DAT file does not work in this case.

The third party products mentioned here are manufactured by vendors independent of Microsoft; we make no warranty, implied or otherwise, regarding these products' performance or reliability.

Additional query words: OA Interop Officeinterop

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