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Excel automation error after Windows Update?

Hi All,

 

I've just run Windows Update (today, 15th August 2012) and now when I open Excel 2010 I get an Automation Error (nothing more specific than that). I have an addin installed that creates an object that refers to the Excel Application (WithEvents so I can handle certain application level events) and it looks like it's not happy with this code.

 

Anybody else having the same issues after today's updates? Anyone got any clues as to how to solve?! I've tried the following:

 

1. Delete the .exd and .box files in the AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Forms folder (a bit of a longshot but it fixed a problem earlier this year after an update)

2. System restore - the restore failed and now Windows is telling me I have no restore points!

3. Moving the addin - this lets me get into Excel but then I don't have my addin, which I need for my work!

 

Any help (particularly from MS) would be greatly appreciated...

 

T.

Answer
Answer

We have seen a few issues where installing the security updates in the KB articles below can cause error messages similar to the ones mentioned on this thread (ex. “Unspecified Automation Error”).

 

Office 2010:

2597986 - MS12-060: Description of the security update for Office 2010: August 14, 2012

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/2597986/EN-US

 

Office 2007:

2687441 - MS12-060: Description of the security update for 2007 Office system: August 14, 2012

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/2687441/EN-US

 

Office 2003:

2687323 - MS12-060: Description of the security update for Office 2003 and Office 2003 Web Components: August 14, 2012

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/2687323/EN-US

 

 

In order to resolve these errors after the update is installed, my first recommendation would be to follow the steps in the “Known Issues” section of the KB article.  These steps basically show you how to unregister and reregister the mscomctl.ocx file on your machine.  As mentioned in these articles if you are on a Windows Vista or Windows 7 machine, you will need to ensure you register these files from an elevated command prompt (the KB article states how to do this).

 

In addition to these steps, please reference the information on the Microsoft Excel Support Team blog using the following link:

 

http://blogs.technet.com/b/the_microsoft_excel_support_team_blog/archive/2012/08/15/quot-unspecified-automation-error-quot-after-applying-ms12-060.aspx

 

This blog will provide you with information related to the problem, steps similar to those in the KB articles above, and also some additional steps you can try.  This blog most likely will also be updated when any other steps / workarounds become available.

 

If you continue to have issues after going through the steps mentioned in the KB article or Excel blog, then my next recommendation would be to open a support case with Microsoft so that we can look into the issue with  you.  You can open a support case online by using the following link:

 

Online Assisted Support Options (create cases online) - http://support.microsoft.com/select/default.aspx?target=assistance

 

 

Hopefully this helps.

 

Best Regards,

Nathan O.

Microsoft Online Community Support

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Last updated October 6, 2022 Views 10,392 Applies to: