Mac OS X 10.5.2 Special Report: Microsoft Office applications slow to launch

Microsoft Office 2008 apps slow to launch A number of users are reporting incredibly slow launch times (up to several minutes) for Office 2008 applications under Mac OS X 10.5.2. Some MacFixIt readers report that Apple and Microsoft have both identified this as a known issue.

For some users, the following fixe has proven mildly successful: In Word, turn off WYSIWYG fonts and "Show Project Gallery at Startup" in (go the "Word" menu, then Preferences > General). Quit any Office apps. Next delete the files:

• ~/Library/Application Support/Microsoft/Office/User Templates/Normal.dotm
• ~/Library/Preferences/com.microsoft.Word.plist
• ~/Library/Preferences/Microsoft/Office 2008
(the ~ refers to your home user directory)

and restart.

For others the slowness persists.

One MacFixIt reader writes:

"I was on the phone with Microsoft yesterday for about one hour...  They are aware it is a known problem. They said a few things have worked for some people, but there is a bigger issue still at hand...  I then called Apple, they said they are aware of the issue and are working with Microsoft. They said it only affects 10.5.2 users. They said it isn't a bug, it is a conflict."           

Note that an update to Office 2008 -- version 12.0.1 -- is forthcoming.

Index:

• Release Notes an update procedure recommendations
• Determining whether problems are caused by Mac OS X 10.5.2 or Leopard Graphics update
• Downgrading to Mac OS X 10.5.1

• "ACL found but not expected" in Disk Utility
• Active Directory issues
• Adobe application slowness, fixes
• Advice at work
• AirPort slowness, disconnects and more
• Applications fail to launch
• Clicks from speakers
• Finder not starting
• Freezes when using DVD Player
• iCal calendars disappearing
• iPhone syncing problems
• Mail.app issues
• Microsoft Office applications slow to launch
• Missing display resolutions
• Poor Performance: Slow startups; general sluggishness
• Override automatic disk shutdown mechanism
• Parallels problems
• Repair Disk/Permissions to the rescue, again
• Screen savers not asking for passwords
• Slow LAN transfers
• Startup stalls or fails
• System utilities (Cocktail, LCC) must be updated
• Misc. third-party application, device problems (Bluetooth, etc.)
• Time Machine not work properly
• Trackpad, mice, keyboard not working -- reset SMC
• Undocumented fixes
• Wake-from-sleep issues (inadvertent restarts, more)

Resources