Problems running Excel after using Migration Assistant for new MacBook Pro

Question

I migrated to a MacBook Pro using migration assistant.  None of the office suite would run so I reinstalled 2011.  Word runs fine, but Excel give me the error message 'The file could not be accessed'  I have repaired permissions and removed duplicate fonts. 

No malware on the system either. 

Suggestions?

[New question split by moderator from this answered question]

Answer 1

You have already repaired DISK permissions using DisK Utilities, so you don't have to do that again. Remaining to be done is to repair USER permissions by following these step. Try this next:

http://osxdaily.com/2011/11/15/repair-user-permissions-in-mac-os-x-lion/

Reinstalling will have little effect unless you first completely remove Office 2011 by following these instructions:

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/2398768

The next step is to run the Office installer and be sure your Mac is connected to the internet so that the Automatic Updates are installed.

Re-installing Office reinstalls Office fonts, so before opening any Office applications run Font Book application again and use it to trash the older versions of any duplicate fonts you discover, and trash any bad fonts encountered. Font Book application has a Validate Fonts feature, which is explained in Font Book Help. That's what you use.

Finally, restart your Mac, empty the trash, and then open an Office application. It should do a "first run" rebuilding the font list and showing you the welcome screens. Then you should be good to go.

Answer 2

I just tried to re-install Office 2011 and still the bug remains.  It acts like it is missing a file for start up....

Answer 3

I would add the 'Done' button shows up very quickly, but is grayed out.   Is it working or just waiting for me to close the window?

I believe there is a file missing at startup that excel is looking for.  Any suggestions?

If I double click on an existing xls document, the application opens without the bug.

Regards,

Answer 4

After about an hour, I closed the 'Reset Home Directory Permissions and ACL's and completed the remainder of the tasks.

The bug still exists.  How long is a reasonable time to wait for the Reset Home Directory....?

Answer 5

It could be a permissions problem.Try this option if you are using Lion...

In Lion, there is an additional Repair Permissions application utility hidden away. This tool is located inside boot Repair Utilities. Here's how to access it.

1 Restart Lion and hold down the Command and R keys.

2 You will boot into the Repair Utilities screen. On top, in the Menu Bar click the Utilities item then select Terminal.

3 In the Terminal window, type resetpassword and hit Return.

4 The Password reset utility launches, but you¹re not going to reset the password. Instead, click on the icon for your Mac's hard drive at the top. From the drop-down below it, select the user account where you are having issues.

 5 At the bottom of the window, you'll see an area labeled 'Reset Home Directory Permissions and ACLs'. Click the Reset button there.

The reset process takes a couple of minutes.

While you are booted from the Repair Utilities, run both Repair Permissions and Repair Drive in Disk Utility

Repair Permissions

1. Open Disk Utility
2. Click on the First Aid tab and select Repair Permissions
3. Click on the icon for your boot volume.
4. Click the repair permissions button.
5. Next, click on the Repair Disk and select your internal drive

When it's done, quit the programs you've opened and restart your Mac. Notice that 'Spotlight' starts re-indexing immediately.