KB2553154 Breaks COM and Active X controls in Excel

Deleting *.exd files does not help, uninstalling the update KB2553154 is the ONLY solution that I found that works.

Shame on Microsoft for not testing their SW more carefully and for NOT providing a fix that actually works, because even the FixIt tools they provide did not work on our systems (Win7 64, Office 15.0.4605.1003)

Following this sequence, we have been able to fix ALL of our issues (thus far).

To reiterate my former statement, this is an "uploads" issue, not a "vba coding" issue. Stay on the issue of updates, not vba coding workarounds...

Restore Office after the Microsoft (December 2014) update

The December-2014 update from Microsoft was a security update, but by itself was incomplete. It should have also included what is now a patch (FixIt 51029, which deletes all "exd" files from the computer). Each computer will need the update and then the "patch". (Using the FixIt patch before, or without, the security update is useless.)

Once a file is saved by someone with the update, it can no longer be opened correctly by those without the update. It may give error 32809, another error, or no error but macros are disabled.

Therefore given enough time, everyone will most likely want to update their system with the security update, so as to remain compatible to the (will be) majority. If you still so choose, steps to remove the security update are at the end.

Step 1 : Make sure your Microsoft updates are current

This could take a few minutes, a few hours, or a day depending on how many updates are required. Some say they have to run it twice.

Go to the Start Menu, type "update" in the search field (don't hit enter), and then select "Windows Update" from the list above (or find it in Control Panel).

Once the Windows Update window appears, click on "Check online for updates from Microsoft Update". This is a link underneath the large box (above) that you wanted to click.

It will prompt you to download MS updates. Select yes, and it will begin the process. It is Ok to hide this while you're working on something else, but everything may run slowly.

For Office 2007 users, you will need to make sure that you have updated to Service Pack 3. (To find out if you have SP1, SP2, or SP3, open the big circle Office Button, go to Excel Options, Resources, and then look beside "About".)

You will need to restart your computer once the updates are complete.

Step 2 : Run Microsoft Fix it 51029

Make sure you have restarted your computer, and that all Office Documents are closed.

Then open the following link, and run the first FixIt button. It says "Microsoft Fix it 51029" underneath.

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/3025036/EN-US

Retest your workbooks. Doing these first two steps works for most everyone (using Office 2010 and 2013), assuming that all necessary updates were indeed installed to bring Office current.

Step 3 : Install the Security Update

If you have reached this point, you are more than likely using Office 2007. (Make sure you have SP3 or you will be unable to download the update.) It is still essential that you first update ALL of the MS updates, even though, for some reason, the December security update didn't install.

To confirm (if you want), go to the Start Menu again and type "Installed Updates". Depending on your version of Office, verify that the security update (see below) is actually there. (FYI: Search may not find it.) If you do not see your update, then install it via the corresponding link, then run FixIt 51029 again.

Office 2013 : KB2726958

http://www.microsoft.com/en-us/download/details.aspx?id=

Office 2010 : KB2553154

http://www.microsoft.com/en-us/download/details.aspx?id=

Office 2007 : KB2596927

http://www.microsoft.com/en-us/download/details.aspx?id=

Don't forget to run FixIt 51029.

Many people are suggesting to delete the above update (you can do this from "Installed Updates") thereby making themselves compatible with pre Dec-2014 Office, but this is more than likely not going to be future, post Dec-2014, compatible.

If you are certain that you have both updated ALL MS updates, installed the Dec-2014 security update, and applied the MS FixIt patch 51029, and are still getting error messages, now it is time to start desperate measures: 1) renaming the file, 2) move it to different folders, 3) email the file to yourself and replace the original, 4) create a new document and move everything over to it, 5) reload Office. I haven't reached desperate yet - pitty on any of you who do!

References:

https://technet.microsoft.com/library/security/ms14-082

http://blogs.technet.com/b/the_microsoft_excel_support_

We are still struggling with this problem.

In many cases, the FIXIT 51029 seems to solve the problem but we have also had numerous unsolvable cases where that does not help. We have a growing list of these unsolvable problems and are starting to suspect we will have to re image these workstations.

Are there any other suggestions before we begin doing that?