XL Err Msg: "Integer Divide By Zero" When You Start MS Excel

ID: Q138824

The information in this article applies to:

Microsoft Excel for Windows, versions 5.0, 5.0c
Microsoft Excel for Windows 95, version 7.0

SYMPTOMS

When you attempt to start Microsoft Excel 5.x or 7.0, you may receive the following error message:

   Integer Divide by Zero

CAUSE

This error message occurs when you start Microsoft Excel version 5.x or 7.0 on a system that has an ATI Mach64 video card driver (version 4.0) installed and you are running Microsoft Windows 95.

WORKAROUND

The following steps will allow you to use Microsoft Excel until you get an updated driver for Windows 95. Note that this workaround uses 16-color mode. If your program requires 256 colors, you may have difficulty running it. Use either of the following methods to resolve the problem.

Method 1: Use the following steps to edit the System.ini file:

          1. Shut down and restart Microsoft Windows 95. When the computer
             is restarting and flashes the "Starting Windows " message,
             press the F8 key.

          2. Choose the "Command Prompt" option.

          3. Type "CD\<WINDOWS>" (without the quotation marks) and press
             ENTER (where <WINDOWS> is your windows  directory).

          4. Rename the System.ini (give it a different file name). To do
             this, type the following at the MS-DOS prompt:

               ren system.ini system.old

          5. Copy the system.cb file and give it the name "system.ini". To
             do this, type the following at the MS-DOS prompt:

               cd c:\windows<ENTER>
               copy system.cb system.ini<ENTER>

          6. In a text editor such as Windows Notepad, make the following
             changes to the new system.ini:

             a. In the [boot] section, add the following lines:

               mouse.drv=mouse.drv
               drivers=mmsystem.dll
               system.drv=system.drv
               shell=explorer.exe

             b. In the [386 enh] section, add the mouse virtual device:

                   mouse=*vmouse, msmouse.vxd

          7. Restart the computer.

          Microsoft Excel should work without the error.

Method 2: Microsoft provides an ATI Mach64 driver directly out of the box.

          To change to a Microsoft Windows 95 driver, use the following
          steps:

          1. Click the Start button on the Windows 95 taskbar, point to
             Settings, and click Control Panel.

          2. Double-click the Display icon, then click the Settings tab on
             the Display Properties dialog box.

          3. Click the Change Display Type button. In the Change Display
             Type dialog box, click the Change button in the Adapter
             section and choose the appropriate video card.

          4. Restart Windows.

NOTE: Do not try to change the video or resolution. Changing the video resolution writes the video information back to the System.ini file and the problem returns. If you need to change the resolution, use Control Panel as noted in Method 2, and return the system to standard VGA display. This method brings the system into a 16-color mode. When you use this mode, programs that require 256 colors may not run properly or may not run at all.

MORE INFORMATION

The Mach64 video card is manufactured by ATI Technologies Incorporated, a vendor independent of Microsoft; we make no warranty, implied or otherwise, regarding this product's performance or reliability.

Additional query words: 5.00 5.00c 7.00

Keywords          : kb3rdparty kberrmsg
Version           : 5.00 5.00c 7.00
Platform          : WINDOWS

Last Reviewed: September 5, 1997