"Could Not initialize VBA", "Timer Driver Not Installed"

ID: q154658

The information in this article applies to:

SYMPTOMS

When you start Microsoft Project, the following error message is displayed:

Could not initialize Visual Basic for Applications. Timer Driver not installed.


The same message also appears when you attempt to insert a module in a Microsoft Excel workbook.


CAUSE

This behavior may be caused by any of the following cases:

Case 1



A conflict with another device or software running on the system.

To test whether there is a conflict with a device or software application running on the system, start Windows 95 in Safe Mode. If Microsoft Project starts properly, then check for and disable items loading in the Windows 95 Start folder and also check for items in the registry Run, RunOnce, RunServices, and RunServicesOnce keys. You can find these keys at: 


   \\HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion


To remark-out a key's value data without deleting it, edit the value and place a semi-colon or other character as the first character in the value name. This will disable the device so that you can test without it being loaded when Windows 95 starts.



Case 2



The Vba32.dll, Vbaen32.dll, or Vbaen32.olb file is corrupted or missing.

Case 3



The file Mmsystem.dll is corrupted or missing. This file should be in the Windows\System folder. The correct file size is 103,248 bytes, and the correct file date is July 11, 1995.

Case 4



The System.ini file is missing a line that says "drivers=Mmsystem.dll," or the file Mmsystem.dll is missing from the Windows\System folder.

NOTE: The "drivers=" line in the System.ini file may contain more than one file name to the right of the equal sign.


RESOLUTION

To work around this problem, use the method appropriate for your situation.

Method 1

Remove the offending program that is conflicting with the Windows 95 virtual timer services.

Method 2

If the files Vba32.dll, Vbaen32.dll, or Vbaen32.olb are corrupted or missing, rename the files and reinstall Microsoft Project.
  1. In the Windows\System folder, locate the following files: Vba32.dll Vbaen32.dll Vbaen32.olb


  2. Select each file and give it a different name. For example, you might change the extension to "old."


  3. Reinstall Microsoft Project.


Method 3

If the Mmsystem.dll file is corrupted or is missing, replace the existing Mmsystem.dll with the extracted file from the setup disks.

The file is located in WIN95_08.CAB on Disk 8 of the Windows 95 disks, or in the Win95 folder of the Windows 95 CD-ROM.

Method 4

If the Mmsystem.dll file is missing from the System.ini file, edit the System.ini file so that Mmsystem.dll is listed on the "drivers=" line, and make sure that Mmsystem.dll is present in the Windows\System folder.


STATUS

Microsoft has confirmed this to be a problem in the products listed at the beginning of this article.

Additional query words: VBA timer.drv initialize Visual Basic library 


Keywords          : projwin 
Version           : WINDOWS:4.1,4.1a,7.0,7.0a,98
Platform          : WINDOWS 
Issue type        : kbbug

Last Reviewed: July 7, 1999