So yesterday I was trying to run my usual Excel automation codes and guess what? Total failure. Nothing worked. Same files that ran perfectly last month just kept throwing errors. Felt like Excel decided to go on strike right when I needed it most.
The Frustrating Start
Opened my budget tracker file and hit the macro button. Instead of magically organizing my data like always, I got this nasty “Runtime Error 1004” message. Tried three different workbooks – same disaster. Even the simplest VBA script just froze up. Weirdest part? These were codes I’d used for years without issues.
What I Tried First
Went through all the basic stuff everyone does:
- Restarted Excel (twice!)
- Restarted the whole computer
- Checked for Windows updates
- Re-enabled all macros in Trust Center
- Even repaired Office through Control Panel
Zero improvement. Felt like wasting half my morning.
The “Aha” Moment
Remembered Microsoft pushed some big security update last week. Started digging through forums and found tons of posts from folks with the same headache. Turns out Microsoft changed how Excel handles macros to “protect” us. Basically broke half the automation scripts out there with their “security enhancements”.
The Actual Fix
Here’s what finally worked for me:
- Opened the VBA editor (ALT+F11)
- Went to Tools > References
- Scrolled down the list until I saw “MISSING: Microsoft Forms 2.0 Object Library”
- Unchecked that broken reference
- Looked for “Microsoft Forms 2.0 Object Library” without the MISSING tag
- Checked the working version
- Hit save and crossed my fingers
Boom! My macros came back to life instantly.
Seems like the update messed with object library references. Took me two coffee cups and four hours to figure this out, but at least now my payroll reports work again. Moral of the story? Never trust Microsoft updates with your important spreadsheets!