Microsoft KB Archive/82979

= Microsoft Knowledge Base =

Excel: Unexpected Quit Under Macintosh System 6.x
Last reviewed: February 23, 1996

Article ID: Q82979

The information in this article applies to:


 * Microsoft Excel for the Macintosh, versions 1.x, 2.2, 3.0, 4.0
 * Apple Macintosh System Software version 6.x

SYMPTOMS
In certain situations, you may receive the following the Macintosh System 6.x error message:

The application 'Excel' has unexpectedly quit.

CAUSES
An unexpected quit can occur for any of the following reasons:


 * 1) The Desktop needs to be rebuilt
 * 2) You are attempting to load a corrupted document
 * 3) There are multiple System Folders on the hard drive
 * 4) There is a conflict with an INIT or CDEV
 * 5) There is a corrupted system file (System or Finder)
 * 6) There is a corrupted application or preferences file
 * 7) There is hardware failure or incompatibility

WORKAROUNDS
Method 1: If the desktop needs to be rebuilt.

It is a good idea to rebuild your desktop periodically to prevent it from becoming corrupted.

To rebuild the desktop file on a floppy disk, hold down COMMAND+OPTION when you insert the disk into the drive. An alert will appear asking if you want to rebuild the desktop.

To rebuild the desktop file on your hard drive, hold down COMMAND+OPTION and choose Restart from the Special menu. Keep the keys held down until the &quot;Are you sure you want to rebuild your desktop...&quot; message appears. Method 2: If you are attempting to load a corrupted document.

In some cases, a document can become so corrupted that attempting to load it will cause Microsoft Excel to unexpectedly quit. To         test this, either double-click the Microsoft Excel icon to start the application and bring up a new worksheet, or attempt to load a different document. If Microsoft Excel does not quit, it may be         that the original document is corrupted.

For additional information, please see the following article(s) in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

ARTICLE-ID: Q109675 TITLE    : Excel: Utilities That Can Recover Damaged Files Method 3: If there are multiple System Folders on the hard drive

The Macintosh recognizes any folder that contains both the System and Finder files as a system folder. Multiple system folders on         the same disk can create many problems, ranging from unusual behavior to complete system failure. To determine if more than one system folder exists on a drive:

a. From the Apple menu, choose Find File.

b. Select the appropriate drive and query on the word System.

If more than one file appears (Find File also reports folders         that contain the search criteria), make a note of the folder locations. If more than one of those folders contains both a         System and Finder file, there are multiple system folders on the drive and all but one should be removed. Method 4: If there is a conflict with an INIT or CDEV

INITs (Initial programs) are small programs that are stored in         the system folder. INITs run when you start your computer. In         general, INITs add increased functionality to the Macintosh. INITs include screen savers, virus protection programs, and Apple's Easy Access. CDEVs (Control Device programs) are INITs that act as hardware drivers or adjust settings for hardware devices. INITs/CDEVs can create system conflicts that cause an         application to unexpectedly quit.

To Test for an INIT conflict:

The best way to test for an INIT conflict is to boot the Macintosh with a clean system folder. To do this, the System file and the Finder must be isolated in their own folder. Alternatively, the computer can be booted from a floppy drive after disabling the System folder on the hard disk by removing either the System or the Finder.

NOTE: Merely booting from a floppy will not constitute a clean boot. On launching an application, the Macintosh will switch to         any system folder that exists on the same drive as the program.

NOTE: Some computer configurations require certain INITs/CDEVs to         boot properly. These can include systems that make use of third party hardware, such as monitors, accelerators, network cards, and so on. Some password protection programs require their INITs in order to decrypt the boot sector of the hard drive and allow startup.

BE SURE TO HAVE A BOOTABLE FLOPPY DISK FOR YOUR HARDWARE CONFIGURATION BEFORE ALTERING THE SYSTEM FOLDER ON YOUR HARD DRIVE.

To Perform a Clean Boot from the Hard Drive:

a. Create a new folder within the System folder by selecting New from the File Menu.

b. Put the System and the Finder in the empty folder.

c. Restart the Macintosh.

If launching Microsoft Excel and working with documents does not produce an unexpected quit, an INIT/CDEV conflict may be the source of the problem. INITs can be added one at a time and the computer restarted to determine which INIT is involved in the problem.

If Microsoft Excel continues to quit unexpectedly, test for a         corrupted System or Finder file. Method 5: If there is a corrupted System File

If problems persist after isolating the System and Finder, one or         both files may be corrupted. To test for a corrupted system:

a. Boot from the Apple System Tools disk (or any bootable floppy            suitable for the computer's configuration that contains the             same version of system software as the hard drive).

b. Remove the System file from the hard drive system folder and place it at another folder level. This file should be saved to            easily recover any special fonts or desk accessories that have been installed.

c. Drag a copy of the System and Finder files from the startup floppy disk to the folder on the hard drive. This will replace those files with a fresh copy from the startup disk.

d. Restart the computer and test Microsoft Excel.

If Microsoft Excel performs correctly, it is likely the system was corrupted.

NOTE: System file corruption can be created by INIT/CDEV conflicts. If this problem continues to arise, there may be a         problem with the INITs and CDEVs in the system folder.

If Microsoft Excel continues to quit unexpectedly, test for a         corrupted application or hardware conflict. Method 6: If there is a corrupted Application or Preferences file

In some cases, Microsoft Excel or its preferences files may have become corrupted. To test for corrupted preferences files:

a. Remove Microsoft Excel Settings from the system folder.

b. Launch Microsoft Excel. A new Microsoft Excel Settings file will be created using default information.

If the problem no longer persists, the Microsoft Excel Settings file is probably corrupted. This can happen in rare cases when the computer is restarted by another application while Microsoft Excel is running in the background, or if the computer is shut down while Microsoft Excel is writing to the file.

If the problem persists, reinstall Microsoft Excel. Method 7: If there is a hardware failure or incompatibility

If all of the above solutions fail to fix the problem some third- party hardware may not compatible with Microsoft Excel. In other cases, the hardware may not be configured properly or may be         faulty. To test for hardware problems, contact the manufacturer for advice on how to temporarily disable or remove the equipment.