EXCEL HELP FUNCTION NOT WORKING

Question

I have lost my help function in excel. When calling for it a message says help function is not working etc.  This comes on as a faint black and white image which when clicked becomes normal format.  This is with or without connection to the internet.

Word help works in both on line and off line mode.

I thought that this may have been due to the security problems as noted in the last update (which I have just installed).

I have rebooted several times but this has made no difference. 

I am unable to remember when the help function last worked, it could be months ago but I would like it back!

Any ideas on what has gone wrong?

Answer 1

It would be nice to know why these things happen and not have to clear out and re-install!

Why?  Office applications have been flakey since "Day 1", back in the 1980's!  They are so flakey that they number one trouble shooting tip from MS Support is "uninstall and re-install".  The Office applications have actually been explicitly written to support that "fix technique".  When you do a "normal" uninstall from the control panel, the uninstaller leaves behind "settings files" like normal.dotm and custom spelling files and also registry entries.  The installer checks for these files and if they are found it leaves them in place so you don't have to redo your the customization to personalize the installation.

Answer 2

OK, it is strange that help is working for Word but not Excel.

First, try doing an Office Repair. If that doesn't help, then do an Uninstall and Reinstall.  Make sure you have the 25-character product key BEFORE you do the uninstall.

Repair or Uninstall Office 2013

https://support.office.com/en-us/article/Uninstall-Office-2013-or-Office-365-from-a-Windows-computer-9dd49b83-264a-477a-f8fcc-2fdf5dbf61d8?ui=en-US&rs=en-US&ad=US – ‘new” uninstall 365/2013 page

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http://answers.microsoft.com/en-us/office/wiki/office_365hp-office_install/repair-office-365-in-pictures/f09d64b7-cfcc-4d07-be0b-0c429682d01a?tm=1405256665011 Repair Office 365 in Pictures

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**http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/gg998767.aspx#BKMK\_OfficeRepair** Office 365 (2013) - Repair is same as earlier versions

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Answer 3

I don't think that help.xlsx is the right name. The help file would not be a spreadsheet.   I just searched my computer and I don't have it.  I have 4 versions of Office installed right now, 2003-2013.

Could that be the name of a help file associated with a specific spread sheet application you are using?

Please describe the steps you are taking to get this message.  Please give us the FULL and Exact error message text.

Answer 4

Thanks for this information.

I have office home and student 2013 (and the key).

I had to have windows and office re-installed in May of this year due to office completely failing this was done by the retailer (I bought the PC around January this year).  Suspected cause was update failures.

Since my first post I have tried a few things and the latest is going to excel help via the start menu and searching for excel help.  When I click on it I get the message that file help.xlsx is missing has it been renamed deleted or moved?  I have not done any of these but searching for this name does not find it. Searching for part of the name finds many files but nothing like the one I need.

I have wondered, if, when the office suite was re-installed that there was an option to not download the help files but this would not explain why word help seems to work O/K.

Answer 5

The simple first step is to do an "Office Repair". It probably won't work, but may you'll get lucky

People tend to lump Office 2013 and Office 365(2013) together.  Exactly what Office license do you have? 

If that doesn't work, try doing an uninstall and re-install. Before doing the uninstall ...

If it is one of the Office 2013 bundles, like Home and Student, then you will need the product key to do the re-install in the next step.  If you have one of the Office 365 bundles, like Home Premium, then you don't need the product key. You can do the re-install from the "MYACCOUNT" page.

Repair or Uninstall Office 2013 / 2010 / 2007 / 2003

http://answers.microsoft.com/en-us/office/wiki/office_365hp-office_install/repair-office-365-in-pictures/f09d64b7-cfcc-4d07-be0b-0c429682d01a?tm=1405256665011 Repair Office 365 in Pictures

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**http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/gg998767.aspx#BKMK\_OfficeRepair** Office 365 (2013) - Repair is same as earlier versions

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https://support.office.com/en-us/article/Uninstall-Office-2013-or-Office-365-from-a-Windows-computer-9dd49b83-264a-477a-f8fcc-2fdf5dbf61d8?ui=en-US&rs=en-US&ad=US – ‘new” uninstall 365/2013 page