XL: Workbooks in Startup Folder Are Not Scanned for Macros (180614)


The information in this article applies to:

  • Microsoft Excel 97 for Windows
  • Microsoft Excel 98 Macintosh Edition
This article was previously published under Q180614

SYMPTOMS

When you start Microsoft Excel 97 for Windows, if there are any workbooks stored in either of the following folders

  • C:\Program Files\Microsoft Office\Office\Xlstart
  • The Alternate Startup File Location specified in the General tab of the Options dialog box
the workbooks are not scanned for macros when they are opened, even if the Macro Virus Protection option is enabled in the Options dialog box.

The same applies to Microsoft Excel 98 Macintosh Edition when workbooks are stored in either of the following locations:

  • The Microsoft Office 98:Office:Startup:Excel folder
  • The Alternate Startup File Location specified in the General tab of the Preferences dialog box

CAUSE

Workbooks stored in the startup folders are assumed by Microsoft Excel to be trusted. As a result, when you start Microsoft Excel, workbooks in the startup folders are not scanned for macros.

This behavior is by design of Microsoft Excel.

RESOLUTION

If you have reason to believe that one or more workbooks on your computer have been infected by macro viruses, perform the following steps:

  1. In Microsoft Excel 97 for Windows, click Options on the Tools menu. In Microsoft Excel 98 Macintosh Edition, click Preferences on the Tools menu.
  2. Select the General tab.
  3. Select (check) the Macro Virus Protection checkbox. Also, clear the contents of the Alternate Startup File Location edit box. Then, click OK.
  4. Exit Microsoft Excel.
  5. Using the Windows Explorer, remove ALL files from the Xlstart folder. You can either delete the files, or you can move them to a different folder.

    In Microsoft Excel 98 Macintosh Edition, use the Finder to remove ALL files from the Microsoft Office 98:Office:Startup:Excel folder. You can either delete the files, or you can move them to a different folder.
After you have performed these steps, use the information in the following articles to remove the macro viruses from your workbooks:

150990 : XL: How to Use the Virus Search Add-in for Microsoft Excel (WE1280)

154131 : XL: Q&A about Excel Macro/Laroux Macro Virus

171093 : XL97: Macro Virus Protection Alert May Not Appear

176807 : XL: How to Identify and Remove PLDT (Laroux) Macro Virus

179373 : XL: File Is Damaged After It Is Cleaned by Antivirus Software

MORE INFORMATION

You can demonstrate this problem by performing the following steps:

  1. In Microsoft Excel 97 for Windows, create a new workbook.
  2. On the Tools menu, click Options. Select the General tab. Select (check) the Macro Virus Protection checkbox, and click OK.
  3. On the Tools menu, point to Macro, and click Visual Basic Editor. Then, click Module on the Insert menu. Type the following code in the new module: 

          Sub Test()
          MsgBox "Not really a virus."
      End Sub
  4. On the File menu, click Close And Return To Microsoft Excel.
  5. On the File menu, click Save. Change the name of the workbook to Test1, and save it in the following folder:

    C:\Program Files\Microsoft Office\Office\Xlstart
  6. On the File menu, click Close.
  7. On the File menu, click Open. Select the Test1 workbook and click Open.

    You receive the following warning message:
    The workbook you are opening contains macros. Some macros may contain viruses that could be harmful to your computer.
  8. Click Do Not Open. Then, exit Microsoft Excel.
  9. Start Microsoft Excel.
Microsoft Excel starts and the Test1 workbook opens. You do not receive the macro virus warning message, even though Test1 contains macros.
Modification Type:MinorLast Reviewed:1/28/2005
Keywords:kbcode kbProgramming KB180614
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