Excel 2010 – Out of Resources Error

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I have a Windows 7 Pro Domain user who keeps getting an out of resources error message when opening spread sheets in Excel 2010. This happens on a random basis, never at the same time of day or opening the same spread sheet. The spread sheets in question are all very small with little or no macros in them. There are no error messages in event viewer and nothing occurs immediately before the crash. Task Manager still shows 2.5GB of free memory, the only way to clear the error is to shut excel down and start again. No other user has this error but they are all running the same software. I have googled this fault and carried out all the suggestions I can find:

Turned off preview in all office applications, checked Office is up to date, disabled all Office add ins, check OS updates, turned of AV software(only to test), repaired office installation, removed HP print and cleared out any rouge registry entries, changed default printer, cleared recent documents and all temp folders, Full AV sweep (Sophos), minimised background application start-ups, upgraded RAM to 8GB, Removed Outlook Social Connector, Created a brand new login profile, Created a brand new email profile, last attempt built complete new machine ensured all up to date with all above mentioned fixes no luck still the same, cross checked OS updates with known good machine, copied known good files from a working machine – it’s still happening – I have very little hair left so would appreciate for some help with this.
Kev

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Are the spreadsheets local or accessed across the network ?

When you say “built complete new machine” does that mean a fresh installation of Office 2010 ?

PS you need to keep your lipstick well away from the Registry :rolleyes:

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Are the spreadsheets local or accessed across the network ?

When you say “built complete new machine” does that mean a fresh installation of Office 2010 ?

PS you need to keep your lipstick well away from the Registry :rolleyes:

The spread sheets are all across the network.

“Complete new machine” means different workstation, different brand, and different hardware.
Looks like my grammar check is misbehaving?

Kev

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This is somewhat a touchy subject with some folks but here goes:
The mention of resources goes back at least to Win3.1 [my first computer] and usually refers to the swap file or paging file/Virtual Memory. I use the recommended setting, in Help, about virtual memory, of 1.5 times the physical RAM and never have a problem but larger functions as spreadsheets, databases, video editing, etc., could benefit from a larger setting. At the present time with 8GB RAM and 2 HDDs I put 2GB on the C: drive and 10-12GB on the D: drive. Some programs look for the paging file on the same drive as the OS.

Before you wonder "Am I doing things right," ask "Am I doing the right things?"

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This is somewhat a touchy subject with some folks but here goes:
The mention of resources goes back at least to Win3.1 [my first computer] and usually refers to the swap file or paging file/Virtual Memory. I use the recommended setting, in Help, about virtual memory, of 1.5 times the physical RAM and never have a problem but larger functions as spreadsheets, databases, video editing, etc., could benefit from a larger setting. At the present time with 8GB RAM and 2 HDDs I put 2GB on the C: drive and 10-12GB on the D: drive. Some programs look for the paging file on the same drive as the OS.

I have used the default settings for the swap file which work well on the other 6 similar machines!

Kev

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Physical memory is only one part of the resources puzzle, Pushing the Limits of Windows describes a few more – get a thermos of coffee ready before you sit down to read it.

Back with Win3-9x, there were a couple of tiny files that were used to keep track of, iirc, files that had been opened/used in the current session, when they became full, an OOR error would crop up, the only way to fix it was a reboot. I worked on one machine that we could get to hit the Win9x limit of 2x 128k with the aid of MS Office inside 15 minutes… things have improved a lot since then but those optional columns in TaskMan’s Processes tab might come in useful.

I worked with one forum user more recently who had HP bloatware bogging down the machine, ~20k Handles open post -boot (nowhere near the limit but indicative that something was wrong, the System total was only ~34k) just for the 4-5 HP processes, that was on W7.

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Physical memory is only one part of the resources puzzle, Pushing the Limits of Windows describes a few more – get a thermos of coffee ready before you sit down to read it.

Back with Win3-9x, there were a couple of tiny files that were used to keep track of, iirc, files that had been opened/used in the current session, when they became full, an OOR error would crop up, the only way to fix it was a reboot. I worked on one machine that we could get to hit the Win9x limit of 2x 128k with the aid of MS Office inside 15 minutes… things have improved a lot since then but those optional columns in TaskMan’s Processes tab might come in useful.

I worked with one forum user more recently who had HP bloatware bogging down the machine, ~20k Handles open post -boot (nowhere near the limit but indicative that something was wrong, the System total was only ~34k) just for the 4-5 HP processes, that was on W7.

I have “minimised background application start-ups” to bare minimum in fact they are a lots less than everyone elses.

Kev

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My questions were surmising it could be:

1. A network issue – if there’s a network hardware problem, that would persist through all the software changes you’ve made.

2. Corruption in the Office installation.

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My questions were surmising it could be:

1. A network issue – if there’s a network hardware problem, that would persist through all the software changes you’ve made.

2. Corruption in the Office installation.

1. If it was a network issue then all the other users would see that also, complete Workstation change would rule out network hardware problem.

2. “repaired office installation” This was carried out on both original workstation and new workstation!

Kev

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Are you using the 32-bit, or 64-bit version of Office 2010?

32-bit version OS is 64bit.

Aware that 32-bit has a maximum memory of 2GB but, spreadsheets are only Kb in size and user never has more than 3 open at any one time.

Kev

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So, to eliminate further possibilities (eg the network between the PC and the server), what happens if you copy the files to the PC and open them from there ?

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So, to eliminate further possibilities (eg the network between the PC and the server), what happens if you copy the files to the PC and open them from there ?

Copied files to PC all open up fine; Network versions don’t always cause this error for this one user. No one else has this problem!

I have replaced the switch -fault still apparent, changed ports on the original and replacement, -fault still apparent, Network cable replaced -fault still apparent!

Kev

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Continuing the elimination process then, I’d plug this particular PC into a network location where another PC opens the network files properly . . .

Sherlock Holmes “Once you eliminate the impossible, whatever remains, no matter how improbable, must be the truth.” !

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Continuing the elimination process then, I’d plug this particular PC into a network location where another PC opens the network files properly . . .

Sherlock Holmes “Once you eliminate the impossible, whatever remains, no matter how improbable, must be the truth.” !

I have already done so when i changed the port that the PC was using for a port that was used by a known good PC and then replaced the Switch when the fault re-occurred!

Irrespective of which port on this network switch the PC is connected to the fault still occurs.

Kev

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Did you change its physical location ie move the misbehaving PC to a physical location where another PC worked fine ?

Sorry if I’m asking dumb questions but if the files “work locally” there must be an issue somewhere in the connection chain.

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Microsoft says the 2GB of virtual address space is shared by Excel, the workbook, and any add-ins running in the same process.

It might be worthwhile to download Sysinternals Process Explorer and run it on that workstation.

https://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/sysinternals/processexplorer

When the issue occurs, you will be able to see what is loaded and what is being used.

You will also be able to attach the debugger to the process, and create a dump for analysis.

I have downloaded and installed Process explorer, must now wait until the fault rears it’s ugly head again.

As this is a new tool for me do you know where i could find some instructions etc…

Kev

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HowToGeeks guide linked from here, Channel 9 video.

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HowToGeeks guide linked from here, Channel 9 video.

Thanks for posting the link, will have to get my learning head on!

Kev

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This seems to be a common problem from Excel 2007 through at least 2013 (possibly 2016 but I haven’t used that version yet). I came across a good article for solving issues like this at https://www.add-ins.com/support/out-of-memory-or-not-enough-resource-problem-with-microsoft-excel.htm

Leland
🙂

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