MXL: Problem Starting MS Excel After Installing 15-Digit Patch

Article ID: Q152295

The information in this article applies to:

Microsoft Excel for the Macintosh, version 5.0, 5.0a
Microsoft Office for the Macintosh, versions 4.2, 4.2.1, 4.2.1a, 4.2.1b

SYMPTOMS

When you try to start Microsoft Excel from the Microsoft Office Manager (MOM), you may receive the following error message:

   The application is in the Trash. To use it, first drag it out of the
   Trash.

At this point, your only option is to click OK.

CAUSE

You may experience this problem if all of the following are true:

You have just installed the Microsoft Excel for the Macintosh 15-digit patch.
-and-
You followed the directions in the Read Me file included with the 15-digit patch.
-and-
You dragged the original Microsoft Excel file (renamed "Old Excel," as the instructions indicated in the Read Me file) into the Trash, but you did not empty the trash.
-and-
You tried to start Microsoft Excel from the Office Manager menu.

The reason why you receive the error message is that the Office Manager follows the original Microsoft Excel file around on your hard drive, even if it is renamed. Therefore, if it is in the Trash, the program can't start because the system will not allow applications to start from within the Trash.

RESOLUTION

To work around this problem, empty the Trash, and then do the following:

1. On the MOM menu, click Customize.

2. In the MOM window, click the entry for Microsoft Excel, and then click

   Edit.

3. In the next dialog box, click Change, and then locate and open the

   folder containing the patched version of Microsoft Excel version 5.0.

4. Click Microsoft Excel, and then click Add.

5. Click OK, and then close the Microsoft Office Manager window.

When you click Microsoft Excel on the MOM menu, the newly patched version should start.

STATUS

Microsoft has confirmed this to be a problem in the Microsoft products listed at the beginning of this article. We are researching this problem and will post new information here in the Microsoft Knowledge Base as it becomes available.

MORE INFORMATION

The directions in the Read Me file that is included with the 15-digit patch does not explicitly state that you should move the original, unpatched, copy of Microsoft Excel to the Trash. Therefore, if you do not move the original Microsoft Excel file (renamed to "Old Excel") to the Trash, you may end up with two copies of the Microsoft Excel executable in your Microsoft Excel folder. Then, if you try to start Microsoft Excel from the Office Manager menu, the wrong instance of the program may start.

To verify which copy is running, enter the number 1.40737488355328 into a cell. If the cell value changes to 1.28, then the unpatched version of Microsoft Excel is running. To clear up this problem, drag the original Microsoft Excel file (renamed to "Old Excel") to the Trash, and then empty the Trash.

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

   ARTICLE-ID: Q151523
   TITLE     : How to Install MS Excel for the Macintosh 15-Digit Patch

Additional reference words: 5.00 5.00a 4.20 4.21 4.21a 4.21b

Keywords          : offmac xlmac 
Version           : MACINTOSH:4.2,4.21,4.21a,4.21b
Platform          : MACINTOSH