Can't change options

[philtyler]

Everytime I try to change Excel options from the tool menu it says "Can't access directory... "

The directory it can't access is mapped to a location that doesn't exist anymore on a server, plus it's not even a directory.

Also autorecover doesn't work either for the same reason. It can't access the "directory"

How do I solve this? Remembering I can't do it from the options menu.

[Anne Troy]

Have you tried running Detect and Repair from the Help menu?
************
Anne Troy
www.OfficeArticles.com

"philtyler" <[email protected]> wrote
in message news:[email protected]...
>
> Everytime I try to change Excel options from the tool menu it says
> "Can't access directory... "
>
> The directory it can't access is mapped to a location that doesn't
> exist anymore on a server, plus it's not even a directory.
>
> Also autorecover doesn't work either for the same reason. It can't
> access the "directory"
>
> How do I solve this? Remembering I can't do it from the options menu.
>
>
> --
> philtyler
> ------------------------------------------------------------------------
> philtyler's Profile:
> http://www.excelforum.com/member.php...o&userid=12476
> View this thread: http://www.excelforum.com/showthread...hreadid=396248
>

[Dave Peterson]

First, my response includes editting the windows registry.

So back it up before changing anything--you won't get a "are you sure" prompt!

close excel (if you got it open!)
windows start button|run
regedit
file|export (select all) and create your backup

then get to:
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\microsoft\11.0\Excel\Options
(11.0 is for xl2003. Use 10.0 for xl2002.)

Now look for those things that could contain paths.

AltStartup
AutoRecoverPath (if you've ever changed it)
DefaultPath

(those were the only ones I saw.)

Double click on the name (on the right hand side) and erase any of the paths you
have typed in. You can always add them via Tools|options later.

Good luck and be careful.

philtyler wrote:
>
> Everytime I try to change Excel options from the tool menu it says
> "Can't access directory... "
>
> The directory it can't access is mapped to a location that doesn't
> exist anymore on a server, plus it's not even a directory.
>
> Also autorecover doesn't work either for the same reason. It can't
> access the "directory"
>
> How do I solve this? Remembering I can't do it from the options menu.
>
> --
> philtyler
> ------------------------------------------------------------------------
> philtyler's Profile: http://www.excelforum.com/member.php...o&userid=12476
> View this thread: http://www.excelforum.com/showthread...hreadid=396248

--

Dave Peterson

[philtyler]

Did the regedits as discribed, fixed the problem, AND didn't screw up my PC.
What more can one ask for?

The only part that took any skill was navigating to the right spot because on my PC the tree looked a little different. In case it helps someone else my path was like this:

Hkey_users\software\microsoft\office\10.0\options


thanks for the help

Phil

[Dave Peterson]

There wasn't an Excel in that branch??

(But glad you found it and didn't end up with a boat anchor! <vbg>)

philtyler wrote:
>
> Did the regedits as discribed, fixed the problem, AND didn't screw up my
> PC.
> What more can one ask for?
>
> The only part that took any skill was navigating to the right spot
> because on my PC the tree looked a little different. In case it helps
> someone else my path was like this:
>
> Hkey_users\software\microsoft\office\10.0\options
>
> thanks for the help
>
> Phil
>
> --
> philtyler
> ------------------------------------------------------------------------
> philtyler's Profile: http://www.excelforum.com/member.php...o&userid=12476
> View this thread: http://www.excelforum.com/showthread...hreadid=396248

--

Dave Peterson