Equation Editor and macro functionality - which Windows dependencies?

Question

Hello!

I've already posted a similar question in the German forums.

I'm using Office 2007 Sp2 Enterprise edition on Windows 7 x86.

The following two problems occur:

1. Recording macros doesn't work in any of the Office applications. I get the error message "Unable to record"2. The equation editor in Word doesn't work correctly. When I input 2/3, 2^5, etc. it doesn't get converted into professional mode. Selecting "Professional" or "Linear" doesn't show any effects.

Edit: Just realized the the Visual Basic Editor in Excel also doesn't show any projects. Same in Word. Here it also shows the error message "Could Not Open Macro Storage"

Following steps I've tried to solve the problems:1. Office diagnosis - no problems found 2. Office repair3. complete Office uninstallation and removal of traces following a new clean installation4. Installing Office 2010 --> exactly the same problems here

Since I can't reproduce these problems with the same Office 2007 installation on a WinXP machine, I assume the problems is causing something in Windows 7. Probably some function, service, etc. - the equation editor and the macro functionality rely on - got defective.

Maybe someone got any clues and can help me here.

Thanks in advance and best regards!

---

Answer 1

Hello!

I managed to solve the problem myself!

Macros/VBA and the Equation Editor in Word are working correctly again.

Apparently every single Office application shows a different error message.

After another several unsuccessful undertakings I've tried the macro recorder in Powerpoint and it told me that STDOLE2.TLB couldn't be registered.

So I googled around a bit found out that this might have something to do with permission problems regarding this registry key:

HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\TypeLib{00020430-0000-0000-C000-000000000046}\2.0

Apparently the whole key was missing here. So I exported the key on a Win7 virtual machine in order to import it again on the faulty machine.

Unfortunately it didn't work again because of permission problems.

So I changed the owner of the key 00020430-0000-0000-C000-000000000046 from TrustedInstaller to Adminstrators and gave the Users full access.

Afterwards I could successfully import the .reg file and voilá, everything worked.

I changed the owner back to TrustedInstaller (you have to input "NT Service\TrustedInstaller" without the quotes in the owner field) and set back all the permissions.

Maybe this post is useful to others with the same problem.

Here is the missing registry key for those who need to import it:

Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\TypeLib{00020430-0000-0000-C000-000000000046}\2.0]

@="OLE Automation"

"PrimaryInteropAssemblyName"="stdole, Version=7.0.3300.0, Culture=neutral, PublicKeyToken=b03f5f7f11d50a3a"

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\TypeLib{00020430-0000-0000-C000-000000000046}\2.0\0]

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\TypeLib{00020430-0000-0000-C000-000000000046}\2.0\0\win32]

@="C:\Windows\system32\stdole2.tlb"

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\TypeLib{00020430-0000-0000-C000-000000000046}\2.0\FLAGS]

@="0"

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\TypeLib{00020430-0000-0000-C000-000000000046}\2.0\HELPDIR]

@="C:\Windows\system32"

Answer 2

I recently installed microsoft office 2007 and would open a new workbook and every time I went to the developer tab and clicked record new macro, I would get the error 'unable to record'. I looked up my: [HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\TypeLib{00020430-0000-0000-C000-000000000046}\2.0\0\win32  and the data field for some reason had X:\windows\system32\stdole2.tlb I changed the permissions of the  00020430-0000-0000-C000-000000000046 to 'allow' for everyone which then allowed me to right click and modify the data value to C:\windows\system32\stdole2.tlb and voila! I can record macros!

Special thanks to Microsoft for creating a product only .05% of the population can fix and use themselves....

I have the same problem, i.e. I get the 'Unable to record' message whenever I try to record a macro. I am running Excel:mac 2011 and have done a lot with macros and Visual Basic in the past. But I have not done anything with ROOT directories (I think that is what you are referring to). You indicated that you 'looked up' your "[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\TypeLib{00020430-0000-0000-C000-000000000046}\2.0\0\win32"

Exactly HOW did you look it up? Did you use Terminal? If so, what command did you use? I'm not in the 0.05% of the population you were referring to, but I would sure like to be able to record macros again.

Thanks!

Answer 3

Thank you so much, this fixed my problem too! 

My problem was slightly different. I recently installed microsoft office 2007 and would open a new workbook and every time I went to the developer tab and clicked record new macro, I would get the error 'unable to record'. I looked up my: [HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\TypeLib{00020430-0000-0000-C000-000000000046}\2.0\0\win32  and the data field for some reason had X:\windows\system32\stdole2.tlb I changed the permissions of the  00020430-0000-0000-C000-000000000046 to 'allow' for everyone which then allowed me to right click and modify the data value to C:\windows\system32\stdole2.tlb and voila! I can record macros!

Special thanks to Microsoft for creating a product only .05% of the population can fix and use themselves....

Answer 4

Thanks for your reply!

Equation Editor is already installed according to the Office installer.

It's also working but not as it should.

I've created a screencast in order to make my problems clearer:

http://screencast.com/t/42Lv0fw26

Best regards and a happy new year!

Answer 5

Equation Editor is not always part of the typical installation. To add Equation Editor, follow the appropriate instructions below; you will need the installation CD

1.From the Start menu, select either Control Panel, or Settings and then Control Panel.

2.Double-click the Add/Remove Programs (or Add or Remove Programs) icon.

3.Locate the Microsoft Office 2010  and click once to highlight it. 

4.Click Change.

5.When the Office installation window opens, select Add or Remove Features, and then click Next.

6.Next to Office Tools, click the + (plus sign) once. Click Equation Editor, and then select Run from Computer.

7.Click Continue. When Equation Editor has finished installing, click OK.