Microsoft Excel is a widely used spreadsheet application but sometimes users can encounter the frustrating “Excel ran out of resources” error on Windows. This error can halt productivity, especially if you’re working on complex workbooks with numerous calculations and data. Here are the top six fixes that could resolve this issue.

1.Close Unnecessary Applications and Workbooks: Running multiple programs and Excel files simultaneously consumes your computer’s memory and processing power. Before opening Excel, ensure all non-essential applications are closed, and only open the Excel workbooks you need.

2.Increase Virtual Memory: Virtual Memory acts as an extension of your physical RAM. Increasing it can help alleviate resource issues in Excel.

To do this:

– Right-click on ‘This PC’ or ‘My Computer’ on the desktop.

– Select ‘Properties’, then ‘Advanced system settings’.

– Under ‘Performance’, click ‘Settings’, go to the ‘Advanced’ tab, and then ‘Change…’ under Virtual memory.

– Uncheck ‘Automatically manage paging file size for all drives’.

– Select the drive where your system is installed (usually C:) and choose ‘Custom size’.

– Set the initial size to the recommended value stated at the bottom of the window and the maximum size to a value higher than the initial size.

– Click ‘Set’ and then ‘OK’ to apply changes.

3.Disable Hardware Graphics Acceleration:

This feature can sometimes cause resource issues in Excel:

– Open Excel Options (File -> Options).

– Go to Advanced and scroll down to Display.

– Check “Disable hardware graphics acceleration”.

– Click OK and restart Excel.

4.Perform a Clean Boot: Sometimes, third-party software interferes with Excel’s operation causing it to run out of resources.

To perform a clean boot:

– Type ‘msconfig’ in the Start search box and hit Enter.

– In the System Configuration utility, select ‘Selective startup’.

– Uncheck ‘Load startup items’, ensure ‘Load system services’ and ‘Use original boot configuration’ are checked.

– Go to Services tab, check ‘Hide all Microsoft services’ then click ‘Disable all’.

– Click OK, then Restart your computer.

5.Update Microsoft Office: Bugs within Office can contribute to this error. It is always beneficial to make sure you’re running the latest version as updates often contain fixes. Update Microsoft Office through any Office application via File -> Account -> Update Options -> Update Now.

6.Repair Microsoft Office Installation:

If all else fails, repairing your Office installation might solve resource-related issues:

– Go to Control Panel -> Programs -> Programs and Features.

– Find Microsoft Office in the list, right-click on it, and select ‘Change’.

– Choose from Quick Repair or Online Repair (Internet connection required). Quick Repair fixes most issues fast while Online Repair is more comprehensive.

If you’ve tried these six fixes and still experience problems, there may be an issue with your hardware or more complex software conflict that might require further troubleshooting or professional assistance. Always remember to keep your system updated and maintain periodic cleanups for optimal performance.