Excel: Setup May Hang When Using Saber Menu System Shell

 Last reviewed: September 12, 1996
Article ID: Q97830
The information in this article applies to:
  • Microsoft Excel for Windows, versions 3.0, 4.0

SUMMARY

When you use the Saber Network Menu System shell (SMENU.EXE), instead of the Program Manager (PROGMAN.EXE) shell, the Microsoft Excel setup program may hang. You will not receive an error message alerting you to this problem.

Saber Software advises that an updated version of the shell is now available on their BBS (214-361-1883). It is called SMENU.ZIP and it corrects the problems stated in this article.

MORE INFORMATION

The Saber Software Saber Network Menu System for Windows, version 2.0, comes with the Saber LAN software package. The Saber Menu System shell has the file name SMENU.EXE. SMENU.EXE uses files with the .DAT file extension to identify program groups (the same way that PROGMAN.EXE uses the .GRP extension to identify program groups).

When you have the following line in your SYSTEM.INI file, you may not be able to properly install Microsoft Excel: 

   shell=SMENU.EXE
Microsoft Excel creates a file with the .GRP extension and SMENU.EXE doesn't recognize this file extension, causing your computer to hang.

To correctly install Microsoft Excel, do the following to comment out the Shell= line in the SYSTEM.INI file:

  1. Open the SYSTEM.INI file. Comment out the shell= line by placing a semicolon in front of it. Add the following line below the ";shell=" line: 

          shell=PROGMAN.EXE

  2. Save your SYSTEM.INI file and restart Windows.

  3. Run the Microsoft Excel Setup program.

  4. When you are finished installing Microsoft Excel, remove the semicolon from the shell=SMENU.EXE line and remove the shell=PROGMAN.EXE from your SYSTEM.INI file.

  5. Save the SYSTEM.INI file and restart Windows to use the Saber Menu System shell.

Saber Network Menu System for Windows and Saber LAN are manufactured by Saber Software, vendors independent of Microsoft; we make no warranty, implied or otherwise, regarding these products' performance or reliability.

KBCategory: kbsetup
KBSubcategory:

Additional reference words: 3.0 3.00 4.0 4.00



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Last reviewed: September 12, 1996
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