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What is Microsoft Office Diagnostics?

Celeste Stewart Microsoft Office 2007 comes with a built-in diagnostic tool that will run a series of tests on your installation of Office and potentially solve errors with the program itself. If your computer keeps crashing whenever you are working with a Microsoft Office program, run this tool and find out what’s going on.

Among the tasks that Microsoft Office Diagnostics sets out to do are:

Check for known solutions - Microsoft Office Diagnostics runs tests and then compares the results of your crashes with a database of known problems and solutions.
Diagnose memory problems - If enabled, Microsoft Office Diagnostics tests the integrity of your computer’s installed RAM.
Diagnose compatibility issues - This test specifically looks for two versions of Outlook that may be installed on your computer. When two versions of MS Outlook are installed on a single computer, instability is a result.
Diagnose disk problems - Microsoft Office Diagnostics reviews system event logs and any SMART (Self-Monitoring, Analysis, and Reporting Technology) features related to your hard disk.
Diagnose the Microsoft Office installation for file and registry corruption - Formerly called Detect and Repair, this test finds and replaces damaged program files or Office 2007 registry settings.
Diagnose Update Status - This optional test is turned off by default. It is designed to see if your computer has all of the latest Office service packs from Microsoft. In order to turn this test on, you must go into the Trust Center and enable the option in the Privacy Options area that says, “Download a file periodically that helps determine system problems.” You can access the Trust Center by going to the Office button, clicking “<Program> Options,” clicking Trust Center, and then clicking Trust Center Settings.

Are you ready to run these tests? They take a good chunk of time to run, so plan on running them during a time when you do not need your computer. For example, the setup diagnostics test alone takes roughly 15 minutes.

In addition, if problems are found with the program files, you may be prompted to insert your original Microsoft Office 2007 installation discs. Make sure to have these discs handy as well as the CD key. This is because when problems are found with program files, Microsoft Office Diagnostics replaces the damaged files with clean ones from the original installation disc.

Okay, you have some spare time and the installation discs are handy. Close all programs on your computer, except one Microsoft Office program such as Microsoft Word. Now, go to the Office button and click on Word Options (or Excel Options if you are using Excel), followed by Resources. Find Run Microsoft Office Diagnostics and then click on Diagnose. The Start Diagnostics screen will appear showing you the tests it is planning on running. Click on Run Diagnostics.

If your Microsoft Office programs are damaged to the point where you can’t run Microsoft Office Diagnostics, don’t worry. You can start it manually by going to the Start button, clicking on All Programs, clicking on Microsoft Office, clicking on Microsoft Office Tools, and then clicking on Microsoft Office Diagnostics.