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Links in Excel are broken, error on file save, after applying security update MS11-072

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There are a couple of new problems that we are seeing on some machines after installing MS11-072: an issue with links and a problem saving files that are opened off a network.

Problem 1 - Links contain duplicate folders

We are seeing reports that after installing MS11-072 (https://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;EN-US;2553073) links are broken in Excel 2007. On some machines with patch installed you may see duplicate folders in the URL in the 'Location' section of the edit links dialog. The red box in the picture below shows where the hyperlink location contains two of the same folder name in the URL. That's the problem - the names weren't duplicated before the security update was installed.

While this is a known issue, at this time there is no fix for the problem and the only workaround is to manually fix the link. Again, Microsoft is aware of the issue and we are awaiting word on a hotfix. As soon as a fix is made available this blog post will be updated.

Problem 2 - Error saving file opened from a network

We are also seeing a secondary issue appear after installing this security update. Users are seeing an error after opening an Excel file from a network share and then trying to save that file. The error is "The file <name of file> may have been changed by another user since you last saved it." You are then asked if you want to save a copy or overwrite the changes.

Resolution

This problem can be resolved by installing the Excel 2007 update in https://support.microsoft.com/kb/2598032/EN-US.

Update:

After applying 2598032, another similar issue can occur. To resolve, you may install the Excel 2007 update in https://support.microsoft.com/kb/2687334.

However, after this update is installed another issue may occur.

To fully resolve this issue, you need to install the 2007 Office system cumulative updates for October 2012 from https://support.microsoft.com/kb/2757116/EN-US

Comments

  • Anonymous
    September 29, 2011
    marc.info We're seeing other issues too.   Got a report back that removing the patch got rid of those symptoms discussed there.

  • Anonymous
    November 04, 2011
    Seriously, - is there a fix for this?

  • Anonymous
    May 19, 2013
    What a pain in the.... well, you know.  I had completed an entire spreadsheet with 71 links only then to discover this issue.  The ONLY real workable fix I have found is to right-click the broken link, edit the hyperlink and manually choose the file from the drop-down menu by selecting the appropriate path.  So far by doing this I can save, close and re-open the sheet and the links are still working.  You'd think something like this would have been resolved in beta BEFORE the push, ya?