Interpreting Excel crash message

My Excel 97 crashes when I try and access the Tools/Optons menu item. Re-installing and re-registering and deleting unique toolbars and registry repair steps have failed.
Below is the cryptic message delivered by the details button. Can anyone interpret the meaning of this information?

EXCEL caused an invalid page fault in
module <unknown> at 0000:00650063.
Registers:
EAX=00000001 CS=0137 EIP=00650063 EFLGS=00210207
EBX=0000000c SS=013f ESP=0062efc0 EBP=00780045
ECX=00000003 DS=013f ESI=00000025 FS=3fd7
EDX=00000000 ES=013f EDI=0062f6e4 GS=0000
Bytes at CS:EIP:
00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 41 00 48
Stack dump:
0062f6fc 00000009 00000000 0062f03c 00000000 0062f6fc 00000000 0062efb4 300ce8d5 009ba270 0062f238 009bac70 306e6950 0062f238 32540607 09e40307


Thank goodness those guys didn't write the Declaration of Independence or Constitution! Thanks alot for any help.

 

Unless anybody else comes up with a better suggestion, I'd be inclined to suggest that you:

1) Update your video drivers; and if the problem persists

2) Uninstall Office, empty the Temp folder, Scandisk, Defragment and finally reinstall Office.

 

From MSKB...

Microsoft Knowledge Base Article - Q168201
XL97: Error Messages Appear Clicking Options on Tools Menu
The information in this article applies to:
Microsoft Excel 97 for Windows

SymptomsWhen you click Options on the Tools menu in Microsoft Excel 97, you may receive the following error message:

This program has performed an illegal operation and will be shut down.
If the problem persists, contact the program vendor.
If you click Details, you receive an error message similar to either of the following:

EXCEL caused an invalid page fault in module EXCEL.EXE at 014f:300ce93a.


EXCEL caused an invalid page fault in module <unknown> at 0000:00780078.
Also, when you click OK in the Options dialog box, you may receive an error message similar to any of the following:

EXCEL caused a stack fault in module EXCEL.EXE at 014f:300cc4c7.


EXCEL caused an invalid page fault in module <unknown> at 0000:00000078.


EXCEL caused an invalid page fault in module EXCEL.EXE at 014f:300cc4c7.


EXCEL caused an exception 01H in module EXCEL.EXE at 014f:300c0001.
CauseThese problems occur if you click Options on the Tools menu, click the General tab, and then specify a path that exceeds 53 characters in the Default File Location box.
WorkaroundTo work around this problem, make sure that the path does not exceed 53 characters when you type a path in the Default File Location box.

If you already specified a path that exceeds 53 characters in the Default File Location box, do the following:


If Microsoft Excel 97 is running, quit the program.
Using Windows Explorer, locate the folder that you specified in the Default File Location box. Click the folder to select it.
Right-click the folder and click Rename on the shortcut menu. Change the folder name, and then press ENTER.
Start Microsoft Excel 97. On the Tools menu, click Options.

NOTE: If the problem still occurs, you may have renamed the wrong folder. Repeat steps 1-4 and use a different folder.
Click the General tab.
The path in the Default File Location box should be C:\My Documents. You can specify any folder in the Default File Location box, however, make sure that the length of the path does not exceed 53 characters.
StatusMicrosoft has confirmed this to be a problem in the Microsoft products listed at the beginning of this article.
More InformationIn Microsoft Excel 97, you can set the default file location for Microsoft Excel files by doing the following:


On the Tools menu, click Options. Click the General tab.
In the Default File Location box, type the path that you want Microsoft Excel 97 to use, for example:
C:\My Documents\Workbooks
-or-
\\Server\Share\CJUser\MyWorkbooks
When you are done, click OK.
When you display the Open or Save As dialog box, Microsoft Excel 97 uses the path you specified by default in the Default File Location box.

Note that the problems described in this article do not occur when you open or save a workbook; they occur only when you use the Options dialog box.
First Published: May 7 1997 2:29PM
Keywords: kberrmsg XL97

If you have not done so already, I also recommend installing the OSR-1 service pack....

Max

 

OK!

Will definitely work on that issue. I now need to figure out what was that other file path. I appreciate your digging that up. I did try and research the kb but wasn't that successful. I will try to match your results. What were your steps? What did you use to narrow down the kb listing to find that particular article? And thanks!

 

Report

The suggestion worked fine and I have my Options back. Thanks again.

 

Great to hear it worked!
In searching the KB, I always have the best results using the exact message I get (i.e. - EXCEL caused an invalid page fault... yada yada yada) - You might have to sift a little, but the answer is generally there on the first page of hits....

Max