OFF4: Office for Macintosh 4.2.1 Is Not Compatible with Mac OS 9.0 or Later (288769)


The information in this article applies to:

  • Microsoft Office for the Macintosh 4.2.1
  • Microsoft Office for the Macintosh 4.2.1a
  • Microsoft Office for the Macintosh 4.2.1b
  • Microsoft Excel for the Macintosh 5.0
  • Microsoft Excel for the Macintosh 5.0a
  • Microsoft Word for the Macintosh 6.0
  • Microsoft Word for the Macintosh 6.0.1
  • Microsoft Word for the Macintosh 6.0.1a
  • Microsoft PowerPoint for Macintosh 4.0
  • Microsoft PowerPoint for Macintosh 4.0a
This article was previously published under Q288769

SYMPTOMS

When you use a Microsoft Office for the Macintosh 4.2.1 program, you experience one or more of the following symptoms:
  • You receive the following error message when you attempt to start Excel:
    Not enough memory.
    NOTE: This dialog box may appear with no buttons; however, when you press RETURN the dialog box closes.
  • When you select the Open, Save, or Save As command from the File menu, nothing happens.
  • Excel does not display the worksheet tabs.
  • You notice a general lack of functionality in any Office 4.2.1 program.

CAUSE

Your computer is running Mac OS 9.0 or later. There are known issues with using Office 4.2.1 (which includes all versions of Microsoft Word 6, Microsoft Excel 5, and Microsoft PowerPoint 4 for the Macintosh) on a computer that is running Mac OS 9.0 or later.

RESOLUTION

Mac OS 9.x and Microsoft Office 98 Macintosh Edition or Microsoft Office 2001 for Mac are fully compatible. Therefore, for an optimal computing experience, Microsoft recommends that you upgrade to Office 98 or Office 2001 if you plan to upgrade to Mac OS 9 or later.

If you want to continue using Office 4.2.1, you should not upgrade your operating system to Mac OS 9. If you already upgraded to Mac OS 9, you must reinstall your earlier version of the Macintosh operating system.

MORE INFORMATION

For more information, please browse to the Apple Technical Information Library article at the following Apple Computer, Inc., Web site:

http://til.info.apple.com/techinfo.nsf/artnum/n31133

The third-party products that are discussed in this article are manufactured by companies that are independent of Microsoft. Microsoft makes no warranty, implied or otherwise, regarding the performance or reliability of these products.

Microsoft provides third-party contact information to help you find technical support. This contact information may change without notice. Microsoft does not guarantee the accuracy of this third-party contact information.
Modification Type:MajorLast Reviewed:11/25/2003
Keywords:kbprb KB288769
©2003 Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved.