Excel crashes when opening files that contain a userform
This is a known problem with a known solution workaround which is to delete a file called Excel.box from here:
C:\Users\SlowLearner\Application Data\Microsoft\Forms\Excel.box
According to this forum post the purpose of the Excel.box (& Word.box) file is:
Files such as Winword.box and Excel.box are associated with the Control Toolbox you see when you are designing a UserForm in the Visual Basic editor. The files contain information about the layout of the Control Toolbox (additional tab pages, controls that have been added or removed, custom icons, ...) If a user has never modified the Control Toolbox in any way, there will probably be no .box file. By deleting a .box file, you will restore the Control Toolbox to its default (factory preset) configuration - this is the only way to do that. Sometimes, the .box file becomes corrupted and must be deleted. There are no negative side effects to deleting it.
Unfortunately Excel.box returns :(
It would seem that for most users the problem is fixed by deleting the file, sadly not for me.
I'd like to understand what is causing this problem to recur. A few points to note:
- this (touch wood) is not impacting MS Word on my PC
- I am using Office 2010, 64 bit version on Win10
- I have not made any conscious change to form settings
- if I delete the file > start Excel > UN-DELETE the file: everything works :-/
- some other experiences with this issue here
For the time being I'll just check for and delete the file before launching Excel, but this is hardly an acceptable solution for the long term. Appreciate thoughts for a proper fix... TIA
Additional Information:
I have not fully explored the crash but so far it happens when:
- starting the application by opening an xl?.m file with a userform
- application does not get past the splash screen
- crashes with the application's CRASH screen (... encounted an error...)
- starting the application with a blank worksheet then adding a userform
- crashes immediately with the applications CRASH screen displayed (see below)
The above crash happened after rebooting my PC, had a chance to explore it some more.
- First I opened the file I had been working on (contains userforms):
- annoyingly it opened without crashing
- I did NOT enter the IDE
- I closed the file (Excel closed normally)
- Then I created a new worksheet
- I opened the VBA IDE
- right-click 'add UserForm' - Excel crashed immediately
- (I aborted the recovery / search for a solution attempt)
- Then I re-opened the file I had been working on
- opened the VBA IDE (the project is PW protected)
- the very instant that I entered the PW and hit enter Excel crashed
- crash was same both times...
Safe Mode:
Crash still happens in safe mode - steps to reproduce:
- Run: Excel /safe
- Open VBA IDE
- r-click add userform
- crashes immediately
Creation of the EXCEL.box file
Based on visually observing the folder which had the Excel.box file I did some tests to try and see when it was created. Basically it seems to appear when one of the following happens: - the UserForm tools box is closed - the IDE is closed (after showing the userform)
I've also now tried to modify the userform toolbox by removing everything from it. Excel is still crashing after every restart of the application (which is odd as I was not able to crash it like that earlier).
Office Repair - not tested (yet)
Reluctant to try Office Repair as based on the following quote from here (scroll down: pg 1 reply 8 by Steve IT) I'm not expecting it to work :-/ (but will try if no other suggestions surface).
Thanks for the continued suggestions, however I have tried a repair and also removed Visual Studio 2013 and Office altogether (just in case VS was interfering) and reinstalled both, but it still throws the errors reported previously.
Other user profiles
Created a brand new user called 'test'. Test has the exact same problem.
Excel.exe /safe)? - PatricK