Conflict with Nov 11 2009 Excel 2003 Security Update (KB973593)

After installing this update a complex macro enabled file that I have used
regularly for over a year is flickering and flashing when I navigate from
task to task. It ultimately stops and performs properly but the visual
flashing is significant and render the file unusable as it. After I uninstall
the specific update it works properly again. Any thoughts. The
Application.serverupdating function is used throughout and is apparently not
the source. Thanks

I'm experiencing the same issue. The problem is due to some change in
functionality to the Application.Screenupdating function.

I was going to ask this question, but I'll join you discussion. If anyone
that is fammiliar with this update can give us some answers?

upon further review of my code I found out that the issue is caused by
unprotecting / protecting non-active sheets in the workbook. I also found a
post on the Excel groups

I believe Microsoft was notified that this is a bug.

Here is my workaround in the meantime:

Sub Unprotected()

On Error GoTo Errorhandler
' Unprotect Macro

'///////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
'modified 11/16/09 due to bug from KB973475 to activate sheet
'before unprotecting
'and introduced oldwks to select the original sheet back

'//////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////

Dim wks as Worksheet
Dim oldwks As Worksheet
Set oldwks = ActiveSheet

Application.ScreenUpdating = False
For Each wks In Worksheets
wks.Activate
wks.Unprotect Password:=pass
Next
oldwks.Activate
ActiveWorkbook.Unprotect Password:=pass
Application.ScreenUpdating = True

Exit Sub

Errorhandler:
ModuleNameError = "Unprotected"
ModuleErrorNumber = Err.Number
ModuleErrorDescription = Err.Description
Call Error
End Sub

Similar with Protected code, if you have any.

Activating the sheet before unprotecting it, fixed the bug. Your
workaround saved me a lot of trouble!

Our company are also struggling with this update although it seems to be
affecting us in a different way. Many of our users are unable to link cells
from one worksheet to another or from one workbook to another. As soon as
they click the different sheet/book to link to Excel crashes. As soon as
KB973593 is uninstalled the problem goes away. Strangely though some users
are completely unaffected by this, even though they have the update installed?

[CASteinman]

I believe I have discovered a serious problem with

Security Update for Microsoft Excel 2003 KB973475

that has nothing to do with running VBA Macros. I have a complex spreadsheet that is used to record time for timecards and keep track of costs by job. EVEN when I open this spreadsheet with macros disabled, MS Excel 2003 crashes on the file and then tries to "recover" it. But the recovered file is completely crapped out.

When I open it in Excel 2007, I have no problems and the spreadsheet works fine.

When I removed the KB973475 update, the program worked fine in Excel 2003.

SOMETHING they have done in this update really hoses up spreadsheets.

I think this bug has a variety of symptoms and I believe they may be associated with pivot tables. But I have not narrowed it down because with the update installed, my program just simply crashes -- I cannot investigate any errors.

I have also experienced a serious Excel 2003 failure after KB973475 update.

I have developed several programs which uses XL VBA extensively, each in a
workboook with multiple sheets, many formulas and pivot tables. They have
been running successfully in the field for several years. After the recent
KB973475 update they all now fail with many of their displays to the end user
becoming corrupted. The display appears as a mixture of 2 or more sheets, one
of which usually contains a pivot table. This could be damage to the pivot
table, or merely failure of Excel to redraw the screen properly.

The corruption occurs after a pivot table is displayed and then VBA changes
a cell value on a different sheet in the same workbook, causing a
recalculation.
If KB973475 is uninstalled the fault goes away - the Excel file and the VBA
code does not get corrupted by this installation.

Has anyone else experienced this problem?

I definitely need an answer from Microsoft.

I spent the better half of my morning troubleshooting this issue.

Tools - Options - Edit
- Remove "Edit directly in cell"
it's only the "Edit directly in cell" that causes this issue. If this option is not checked and the patch KB973475 is installed it causes this crash.

The worksheet that I'm working with has a pivot table so it may play a role in this as well.

Correction to my last statement, if I create a new worksheet. Click on Window Freeze Panes and under Tools - Options - Edit - "Edit directly in cell" is not checked it crashes every time.

I'm going to call Microsoft about it because I found anything in their knowledge base about it.

Is Microsoft aware of this bug and are they planning on doing anything about
it?
Any information is appreciated.

Is there any update on when this Bug will be fixed?

[jhboone]

Thanks so much for these posts. I have most of my spreadsheets linked to other sheets using simple '=' formulas. Recently, while linking, Excel 2003 would crash. I just uninstalled update KB973475, and Excel no longer crashes when I link a cell to another spreadsheet.

Now to get the IT folks at work to uninstall KB973475 update - that might take an executive order. Hopefully, MS will fix these problems, but it seems they are still just gathering information instead of fixing.

Nope! I'm hoping somebody with a support contract with MS has raised it.