Excel causes system freeze

[TryingToUseOfficeOnMyMac]

Pat

Yes I have applied the 12.0.1 update and all apps are reporting 12.0.1. as their version #.

/Rob M

Many times Excel has freezed my system. I have become compulsive about saving every few minuets. I have been developing the hypothesis that this occurs most often when I give commands in a quick sequence (e. g. close the formula bar and a Tool Box in quick succession), but haven't tested this as much as I'd like. [I am more interested in getting results then acting as a bug checker.])

Frankly, Excel for Mac does not seem reliable in a production environment. I'm thinking of going back to Excel on a cheap XP machine. Anyone have thoughts on this?

Ed

 

[Sukaina]

Hi,

I do not have an Nvidia Card. On MBP 1.83 Ghz 2GB.

I did not have the problem of opening csv files and CGBitmapContextGetData: invalid context until I applied the 12.01 update last week. now my excel constantly crashes when openeing csv files and I continuously (like 30 every minute) have the CGBitmapContextGetData: invalid context error in my console log.

I do have the leopard graphics update but that was applied in early Feb and not recently and i did not have these errors or crashes. And for me excel is usually open 20 hrs a day.

 

[JE McGimpsey]

Pat

Yes I have applied the 12.0.1 update and all apps are reporting 12.0.1. as
their version #.

/Rob M

Many times Excel has freezed my system. I have become compulsive about saving
every few minuets. I have been developing the hypothesis that this occurs
most often when I give commands in a quick sequence (e. g. close the formula
bar and a Tool Box in quick succession), but haven't tested this as much as
I'd like. [I am more interested in getting results then acting as a bug
checker.])

Frankly, Excel for Mac does not seem reliable in a production environment.
I'm thinking of going back to Excel on a cheap XP machine. Anyone have
thoughts on this?[/QUOTE]

Only that I can and do perform commands like closing the formula bar and
toolbox in quick succession all the time, and have never had a system
freeze.

For me, with all its many shortcomings, XL08 is remarkably difficult to
crash.

 

[Pat McMillan]

To reply to Ed's comment. I have said many times in this newsgroup that the
system freeze issue is caused by an Apple bug! Please see this thread:
http://www.officeformac.com/ProductForums/Excel/822.

We've actually now received confirmation from Apple that this is caused by a
bug in one of their drivers. There's nothing more that Microsoft can do
about this issue. Apple is working on a fix. I can't speak for them as to
when they will release an update that fixes the problem.

Thanks,

Pat

Pat

Yes I have applied the 12.0.1 update and all apps are reporting 12.0.1. as
their version #.

/Rob M

Many times Excel has freezed my system. I have become compulsive about saving
every few minuets. I have been developing the hypothesis that this occurs
most often when I give commands in a quick sequence (e. g. close the formula
bar and a Tool Box in quick succession), but haven't tested this as much as
I'd like. [I am more interested in getting results then acting as a bug
checker.])

Frankly, Excel for Mac does not seem reliable in a production environment.
I'm thinking of going back to Excel on a cheap XP machine. Anyone have
thoughts on this?

Only that I can and do perform commands like closing the formula bar and
toolbox in quick succession all the time, and have never had a system
freeze.

For me, with all its many shortcomings, XL08 is remarkably difficult to
crash.[/QUOTE]

 

[Gary Simpson]

I haven't seen anyone using Tiger on a G5 here so just so you know, it is happening on a G5 PowerPC running Tiger 10.4.11.

 

[Pat McMillan]

Thanks. Do you have an Nvidia graphics card?

I haven't seen anyone using Tiger on a G5 here so just so you know, it is
happening on a G5 PowerPC running Tiger 10.4.11.

 

[Campbell]

Thanks. Do you have an Nvidia graphics card?



--
Pat McMillan
Macintosh Business Unit
Microsoft Corp.
This posting is provided ³AS IS² with no warranties, and confers no rights.

I am also having this problem with Excel, but I am on a Macbook Air
with the Intel chipset. Very frustrating.

 

[shenry]

I have a similar problem. Excel is basically useless because it is so slow and stalls. I have Powerbook G4 with all OSX updates including the Leopard Graphic update. But I have ATI Mobility Radeon 9700 graphics. I can send you a system profile if you like.

 

[gizmatage]

Hi Pat,

I've been using Excel 2008 since last week with no issues, and half an hour ago I encountered the same issue the users here have. I did just check my Software Updates preference, and saw that just today, the "Leopard Graphics Update" was just installed today.

I have Mac Book 2.2 GHz Intel Core 2 Duo, OSX 10.5.2, and do NOT have Parrallel installed. At the time this happened, I only had Entourage 2008, Safari, and Excel 2008 running.

Let me know if there's any other information you want me to give you that might be of help.

Cheers!

 

[Pat McMillan]

Thanks very much for your offer of help! At this point, though, we have
reported a bug to Apple and they've told us they are working on a fix for
it. Unfortunately, I don't know when they will release an update that fixes
the problem. Hopefully soon!

Pat

Hi Pat,

I've been using Excel 2008 since last week with no issues, and half an hour
ago I encountered the same issue the users here have. I did just check my
Software Updates preference, and saw that just today, the "Leopard Graphics
Update" was just installed today.

I have Mac Book 2.2 GHz Intel Core 2 Duo, OSX 10.5.2, and do NOT have
Parrallel installed. At the time this happened, I only had Entourage 2008,
Safari, and Excel 2008 running.

Let me know if there's any other information you want me to give you that
might be of help.

Cheers!

 

[Pat McMillan]

Hi,

The problems you're reporting here don't sound like the system freeze
problems others are reporting. Would you be able to send me a system profile
and explain in more details exactly what behavior you're seeing? Also, it
would be helpful to know if you're experience the slowness and stalls in
other Office 2008 applications, or just in Excel.

Thanks,

Pat McMillan
(e-mail address removed)

 

[fontace]

Hello everyone,

I own a brand new MacBook Pro with a Penryn processor, so a GeForce 8600M GT. And guess what!? I have exactly the same problem as reported: a nice system freeze when maximizing the document using the green button.

BUT WAIT... I HAVE FOUND A WORKAROUND!

Yes, after many tries and system freezes, I have found the exact steps to follow to change the default behavior of Excel when it opens a document, here they are:

1) Open Microsoft Word
2) Open Microsoft Excel
3) Open any existing XLS document, a simple one without macros, etc.
4) Change the size of the document window manually by dragging its lower right corner
5) Navigate through the document, do at least a Page Down then a Page Up
6) Click on the green button to maximize the document window
7) Close Excel
8) Close Word

After that, any Excel document will be opened into a maximized window by default and will not produce a system freeze. That's it!

FYI, I have reinstalled my system two times after having found this solution and it has worked each time. Also, here is how I have installed Office, note that I did not start any application before the final step:

1) Installation of Microsoft Office 2008
2) Reboot
3) Installation of the 12.0.1 update
4) Installation of the AutoUpdate 2.1.1 update
5) Reboot

I hope that all of you will fix this issue like I did... I cross my fingers for you! :smile:

 

[shenry]

Pat you are right! I posted to the wrong thread. I will email an example file with the problem. Basically its when I try to make a simple line chart with froma data sheet with 622 rows by 13 columns of data. Pretty simple and worked fine in 2004 but in 2008 once the chart is FINALLY finished drawing (get the beachball for a long time) then if you try to do anything like open/close the gallery, resize the chart, even just select a menu Excel hangs for a long time (beachball). I will send you example file, samples of the running excel process using Activity Monitor and also the Profile of my system. Thanks.

 

[Pat McMillan]

That would be great. I'll watch for your mail and file.

Pat

 

[Nico_Bos]

Hello,

I can confirm the Excel freezes.
On two Macbook Pro's running MacOSX 10.5.2 I have encountered the same problem: complete system freeze on opening Excel files and also when maximizing the window.
In one occasion the problem seemed to be solved after flushing the fontcaches.

 

[Jim Gordon MVP]

Hello,

I can confirm the Excel freezes.
On two Macbook Pro's running MacOSX 10.5.2 I have encountered the same problem: complete system freeze on opening Excel files and also when maximizing the window.
In one occasion the problem seemed to be solved after flushing the fontcaches.

Hi Nico,

Microsoft has hinted that a service update is on the horizon for Office
2008. Is that the version of Office that you are running? If so, use
Help > Check for updates once or twice a week so that you get the update
as soon as it is released (could be a while before it comes out, who
knows?) Whether the update fixes your problem or not, please reply with
a follow-up message with the results.

If you are using Office 2004 make sure that your copy of office is up to
date. There have been many updates. Use Help > Check For Updates and
keep checking until you have installed all of the updates.

-Jim

 

[fontace]

I know that there is no official fix yet... but did someone try my workaround posted 5 posts above?

Just to confirm that it does work because you could forget about system freezes while Microsoft works on this issue.

 

[dave.tmccl]

I know that there is no official fix yet... but did someone try my workaround posted 5 posts above?

Just to confirm that it does work because you could forget about system freezes while Microsoft works on this issue.

Like many others here I am having repeated problems with Excel
freezing when trying to maximise or re-size the screen. System is a
new MacBook Pro running OSX 10.5.2 and Office 2004.
I've tried this workaround from fontace - unfortunately it didn't work
for me. I'd be interested to know if anyone else has had any success
(or otherwise) with this suggestion. If others get it to work I'll try
it a few more times.
I've also tried re-installing Office, setting up new user profiles, re-
installing OSX.
Frequently I change something (re-installing, changing the dock
settings, only using previously saved workbooks...) and for a few
minutes I think it's worked but then the same old freeze. Any
workaround that seems to give an improvement may last a short while
but then gets worse again - almost like a virus.
I've contacted both Apple and Microsoft. Apple weren't interested -
it's not their problem! Microsoft have been very helpful and at least
score some points for attempting a good customer service but have no
fix.
Any more bright (or dim) ideas out there? A sledgehammer or the office
window may be my next attempt at a fix.

- Dave

 

[Bob Greenblatt]

Like many others here I am having repeated problems with Excel
freezing when trying to maximise or re-size the screen. System is a
new MacBook Pro running OSX 10.5.2 and Office 2004.
I've tried this workaround from fontace - unfortunately it didn't work
for me. I'd be interested to know if anyone else has had any success
(or otherwise) with this suggestion. If others get it to work I'll try
it a few more times.
I've also tried re-installing Office, setting up new user profiles, re-
installing OSX.
Frequently I change something (re-installing, changing the dock
settings, only using previously saved workbooks...) and for a few
minutes I think it's worked but then the same old freeze. Any
workaround that seems to give an improvement may last a short while
but then gets worse again - almost like a virus.
I've contacted both Apple and Microsoft. Apple weren't interested -
it's not their problem! Microsoft have been very helpful and at least
score some points for attempting a good customer service but have no
fix.
Any more bright (or dim) ideas out there? A sledgehammer or the office
window may be my next attempt at a fix.

- Dave

These are known issues. Microsoft is aware of them. Expect some changes and
fixes when an update is released. Make sure you have autoupdate set to check
for updates. Also periodically check Mactopia for the latest news.

 

[D McClain]

I was having the same issue on a new MacBook Pro running Mac Office 2008. I found most of the files causing the issue were 2004 or earlier and when trying to maximize, system would freeze. I started saving the files upon opening into the latest Office format (.xlsx) and the maximizing issues went away.