All of my office 365 apps failing on startup...

I am having issues with Office 365... and frankly I would never sign up for a subscription service, but I got a great deal since I am a student on a multi-year subscription. I don't think my issue is subscription related, but is related to the office products.

I am running Windows 8.1 with all of the high priority updates installed, on my Acer Aspire desktop system with a I3 processor, maxed out memory, an SSD for OS/programs, and the original HDD for most data. The system came with Windows 7, and was upgraded to 8 shortly after I bought it, then 8.1 when it became available. I believe that the Windows 8 was loaded from DVD I burned as part of installing the SSD, and was a clean install. I mention this all in case there is some potential unedrlying issue based on the upgrade path.

I am running Avast (paid version) which runs clean when I scan.

I am not quite to the end of my rope, but I am getting there, please feel free to make any suggestions.

The issue is that every office program I have tried fails almost immediately, when I either open a document, or if I select a document in Windows Explorer.

I have uninstalled Office completely then reinstalled.

Then I uninstalled, removed application's directory, cleaned a couple of registry keys manually, then reinstalled.

I have only installed one app that I can recall since the last time the office products worked for me, and that is Quicken Willmaker 2014. I have printed my will, so I will be uninstalling to see if it matters. Since it worked, I don't recall any Office related updates being downloaded.

Whether or not that program removal solves the issue, I plan to download and try CCleaner...

One other possible issue. It has always been flaky for me, but my IE 11 seems even more finicky than usual... This might be unrelated, or in my head, but I thought I would mention it in case it is relevant. I have not noticed any issues with other applications or functions.

Any thoughts?

Anything obvious that I am missing or that I should add to my to-do list?

Thanks in advance for your expertise.

Mate,

Use revo uninstaller to advanced completely remove office: Download Revo Uninstaller Freeware - Free and Full Download - Uninstall software, remove programs, solve uninstall problems

Additionally, you could use Ccleaner free program to scan the registry to find any office-related material to delete. Be VERY careful not to delete things you are not sure about, as this is a registry cleaning program. This is an optional step due to the small potential to damage something that may be necessary.

Next, try installing office again.

What Antivirus program do you have? (Please don't say McAfee *sigh*)

And if it helps, see this: Troubleshooting tips for Office 365 ProPlus

Thanks for the help so far, but it is getting stranger and stranger...

I downloaded Revo Uninstaller, and it didn't even list office. So, I used the standard uninstall process and removed Office. I then used Revo to uninstall a few other apps that I don't need, just in case there was an issue there, including WillMaker 2014.

I then downloaded and used CCleaner and cleaned up the registry etc. Everything it flagged looked reasonable, so I had it remove the registry entries (after backing up the registry).

So, since I was ready for a fresh install, I logged in to office.microsoft.com but IE 11 wouldn't even successfully open my account (I sense that my issues with IE are symptoms of my root issue now). I then connected and successfully downloaded Office using Firefox, and installed it.

Office is still failing. The only difference is that it asked me about associating some file extensions, and before I could even select those I wanted Word to use, it crashed again.

The only thing I can think of doing at this point is reloading my OS from scratch and starting over... Does anyone have any less drastic steps that I should try first?

By the way, to answer the question, I am using Avast for my virus protection.

Sorry to hear.

Try this: http://www.eightforums.com/tutorials/3047-sfc-scannow-command-run-windows-8-a.html

Run a full scan with avast!, and optionally, you could try installing malwarebytes free as a great additional scan to accompany your antivirus program: Malwarebytes : Free Anti-Malware

Reset IE to see if it fixes that problem: Internet Explorer - Reset - Windows 7 Help Forums

*EDIT*!!! BEFORE YOU MOVE FURTHER, READ MY POST BELOW THIS ONE!!!!!!

To keep everything but try to fix the problem, try this: http://www.eightforums.com/tutorials/26095-repair-install-windows-8-a.html

To refresh windows 8 (WILL remove installed programs, this is an optional method if you have nothing to lose): http://www.eightforums.com/tutorials/2293-refresh-windows-8-a.html

Let me know how some of these go

Does office 365 not install on the computer? You use it through your browser, yes? Then perhaps the problem just lies with IE?

Reset IE, and look in 'manage add-ons'. disable any non-Microsoft and non-adobe add-ons you find. The above post has the methods to try, but don't try anything below the bold *EDIT* words just yet.

Hey Dusty,

I download and run locally so that I have my tools available even ifd something happens to the cable. I will be checking out your other suggestions before I resort to a full reinstall.

I disabled several IE add-ons, and now the IE issue seems to have been resolved. I didn't see anything from anyone I didn't trust (Avast and a couple of others related to items I have installed) but at least that is not connected, because I am still getting failures when starting Office products.

I am running Avast full system scan now, and expect it to be clean (about 4% done right now, and I have located my ISO and key to refresh Windows 8. I wonder if that will work since I am running 8.1, but I haven't completely read through the tutorial you linked to yet.

Since I need to get up and ready for my on-line courses, I will reload 8.0 today if nothing else works... after I run through and backup my data files, and figure out which apps I need, I will be ready to jump if nothing shows up by avast.

I should actually be ready for a fresh load now, since my deata files are on an HDD, (D), and my OS/Programs are on my SSD (C). I should just have to repoint my home directories/libraries after reloading.

Thanks for you assistance so far.

Sorry that it isn't working out as planned. Let me know how the refresh works once you get started on it.

Little Darwin said:

I disabled several IE add-ons, and now the IE issue seems to have been resolved. I didn't see anything from anyone I didn't trust (Avast and a couple of others related to items I have installed) but at least that is not connected, because I am still getting failures when starting Office products.

Click to expand...

You could potentially leave Avast! on for your add-ons, but most other things you do not need running, including Office add-ons. Some people find that they need java running, but if you don't actually need it, disable it, because it is a security risk: Java: How to fix your biggest Internet security risk

Try to disable as much as you can, so long as you don't use the add-ons, as this can only help in speeding IE up. Good luck once again with your office issue!