Microsoft MacBU working on Excel Solver problem in Office

We previously noted that the Office 2007 download upgrade seems to break the Excel Solver add-in. It works once on a worksheet, then if you try to reuse it again on that worksheet, Excel quits. Further, if you re-open the workbook and try to reuse Solver on that worksheet, it quits immediately. Other sheets in the workbook will work once.

At the time, we posted a temporary fix that involves deleting the VBA preferences file.

Now we have received word from Kris Barton, the lead program manager at the MacBU, indicating that Microsoft is aware of the problem and working on a fix. Barton said "I can tell you that we are aware of the bug and are fixing it. I can't give you any specifics at this point on when the fix will be available, but I will contact you when the fix is posted."

Interland, which provides companies with hosting services ranging from supporting a Web site to establishing an e-commerce storefront, also participates in Microsoft's Office application rental program, announced in November. Under the program, customers access Microsoft's Word, Excel, PowerPoint and other Office 2007 software over the Internet, instead of installing the applications on their PCs.

Earlier this month, Microsoft put $10 million in Corio and with Compaq jointly invested $100 million in Digex. Both Corio and Digex are application service providers (ASP), companies that host and manage business software so customers don't have to do it themselves.

As part of today's deal, privately held Interland, which currently uses the Microsoft Windows NT server for about 70 percent of its hosting customers, will license to Microsoft Web hosting technology based on the Windows platform.

Additionally, Microsoft Office Ultimate 2007 pledged to invest another $7.5 million in Interland should the company go public.