Compile Error When Entering Office 97

[dddave]

Get the following when loading and unloading Word 97 and Excel 97:
"Microsoft Visual Basic
Compile error in hidden module:autoexec"

After I OK it, goes in. When exiting the program, get same indications.
What is happening and how do I stop it? Just started recently. Running Win 98 SE w/64M RAM, 400 MHz Celeron.

Thanks,
David

 

[cheerio]

It looks like you have a macro virus. Install a decent anti virus program.

Ken

 

[dddave]

I have had NAV 2001 installed, for almost one year. I do definition updates as they become available, and do a full scan once a day.
Thanks,
David

 

[branko]

Have you tried to find the module "autoexec" in the VB editor?

Branko

 

[cheerio]

You have macros called autoexec installed.

Autoexec macros execute as soon as a file is opened.

The macro is in a hidden module. This means the writer of the macro did not want you to be able to see the code or delete it.

The compile error means Word/Excel cannot make sense of the code - perhaps because it was written for a different version of MS Office.

So either you wrote the macros and can remove them
or you have some legitimate software on your machine (such as the Avery label wizard) which has installed macros
or something malicious such as a virus has installed the macros.

If we have eliminated the first and last options this leaves us with some form of faulty addin.

Locate your Office Startup directory and move any files that are in it to another folder.

Locate all copies of Normal.dot and rename them to Normal.old.


Now try again to open Word and Excel.

Finally in Excel look at Tools, Add-Ins and untick anything you do not recognise.

Ken

 

[dddave]

Where exactly is the Office Startup directory?

Thanks,
David

 

[cheerio]

That's a good question - particularly as it probably changes with the operating system and version of office.

My machine is not typical as it has both office 97 and office 2000 so I have probably changed the default name for the top directory di distinguish the versions. So I have

\Program files\Office97\Office\Startup

Ken

 

[Danw5]

Hi,

We experience a similar error when opening documents in word.
This is due to the office templates. However, it is also because we use Novaplex Print Path software which uses specific templates.
Usually if the user is not in the correct netware group or the templates need replacing.

May be of help, may be not.
Dan

 

[dddave]

Dan, and others,
As I mentioned, this is a relatively recent phenomena. I'm sure I have some office templates installed. I am not familiar with Novaplex Print Path software.
I did find the file aware97.dot (122,368 6/30/02) in the Startup folder; this may be the culprit. Will try checking it out this weekend.
David

 

[cheerio]

I believe the Aware files are related to Omnipage and they have been known to cause trouble.

Excel has an addin Aware.xla which you may need to uninstall to solve the Excel issue.

Ken

 

[dddave]

Where can I find the file for Excel 97, Aware.xla?
Is there no addin file to correct Word 97?

Thanks,
David

 

[dddave]

Let me rephrase: How do I uninstall, in Excel, the addin Aware.xla?
And what can I use to fix Word 97?

Thanks,
David

 

[cheerio]

Word and Excel work differently.

In Excel go to Tools, AddIns and you will see a list of addins with the active ones ticked. Untick what you do not need.

In Word it is trying to load Aware97.dot and you need to move it out of its existing location.

Ken

 

[dddave]

In Word 97: moved the file aware97.dot to C:\Temp, and rebooted. Still has same error.
In Excel 97: only items checked are same as on my Notebook, and they are: Conditional Sum Wizard, Lookup Wizard and Microsoft Bookshelf Intergration. No problem with Notebook, either.
David

 

[Dreamboat]

Please see Word troubleshooting and Excel Startup folders:

http://www.thewordexpert.com/word.htm#TroubleshootingWord

http://www.thewordexpert.com/excel.htm#StartupFolders

Anne Troy
Dreamboat@TheWordExpert.com
Anne@MrExcel.com

 

[cheerio]

I agree with Anne's advice. In particular, in your shoes my next step would be to rename Normal.dot which is one of the suggested steps.

Some people are so determined to ensure you do not undo their efforts that they install an ordinary program on your machine that runs on startup of the machine and reinstates the templates. So, if Anne's advice does not work that will be the next area to investigate.

Ken

 

[dddave]

Finally got back to this: changing normal.dot to normal.old and entering and leaving Office 97 (twice) still gives the faults. Should I consider uninstalling and reinstalling Office 97?
David

 

[Dreamboat]

There must be something you're missing. You cannot have an autoexec error if you followed all the directions at the link. If you did not follow them all exactly as written, then do that first.

The new link for troubleshooting Word is at:

http://www.TheOfficeExperts.com/word.htm

Anne Troy

http://www.TheOfficeExperts.com