Updating office and getting an error message (Office for Windows)

Anonymous
2020-02-11T19:34:37+00:00

I have tried to open a word / excel document. 

It says it is updating, please wait a moment. 

After a few minutes I get a message saying: 

WINWORD.EXE - Application Error - This application was unable to start correctly (0xc0000142). Click OK to close the application.

Microsoft 365 and Office | Install, redeem, activate | For home | Windows

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  1. Anonymous
    2020-08-13T15:27:23+00:00

    Why do MS sabotage their own programs? But I am almost sure that there is a huge department within MS with maybe 500+ programmers whose job is just to find ways to annoy customers.. I have the same problem... Outlook worked fine for years and today... Bingo... The problem rears its ugly face. Name of that department? Microsoft Let's F those who bought our products Department!

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  2. Stefan Blom 351.7K Reputation points MVP Volunteer Moderator
    2020-07-23T21:13:40+00:00

    So this morning, Office updated and now I can't open any Office document. I get an error message.

    Tried to repair the software but that didn't help.

    I decided that since the problem wasn't getting fixed easily, I would de-install the Office package and re-install it completely. I tried de-installing and it won't let me. It says that Excel is open and I must shut it down. Excel ISN'T open (I looked in Task Manager - the app is not open!). I tried restarting the system multiple times. Now I can't even de-install Office in an attempt to fix the system.

    If a repair doesn't work and you can't uninstall, use the Uninstall support tool (see Option 2 in the article at https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/office/uninstall-office-from-a-pc-9dd49b83-264a-477a-8fcc-2fdf5dbf61d8) to get rid of Office. Reinstall from your account.

    Before you remove your installation, make sure that you can access the associated account athttps://www.office.com/myaccount (applies to home user versions).

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  3. Anonymous
    2020-07-17T18:15:08+00:00

    Same issue as others here. I can access office files through onedrive in the web applet, but whether I try repair or not, the updating process fails. I am running Office 365 on a family subscription (Windows 10 ASUS Vivobook).

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  4. Anonymous
    2020-07-16T09:07:50+00:00

    Thanks for the suggestion on the updates, I will try it!  8-)

    The "slow and aggravating" is the Office repair process each day after terminating the failed update.

    Once Office is repaired it works fine (no speed issues).

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  5. Stefan Blom 351.7K Reputation points MVP Volunteer Moderator
    2020-07-08T20:06:02+00:00

    Check the status of your subscription at https://www.office.com/myaccount.

    Have you successfully installed Office? You shouldn't have to download anything to use Office, after it has been installed.

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