Failed to initialize Visual Basic for Apps, equations and macros will not work. W10 2016 SP02

We found that uninstalling VSTA allows you to proceed. Otherwise, you may need to re-install VBA7.1 and then repair SOLIDWORKS to have it reinstall them.

The VBA 7.1 components do not show in Control Panel > Programs > Programs and Features. There are two ways to uninstall these components:

1. Right click on the respective MSI files from your source media and choose "Uninstall".

2. Specify an "msiexec /x" command line script. For example, to remove the components on an English machine, run the following two commands:

msiexec /x "<path to MSI>\vba71.msi

msiexec /x "<path to MSI>\vba71_1033.msi

Alternatively, you can specify the component GUID in the msiexec command. you can find the GUID in the Windows Registry Editor at:

"HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Uninstall"

I do not have a file called "vba71" (or any variations thereof) on my computer. For me, SolidWorks was installed from a network drive. The vba71 file exists on the network drive (but of course I can't uninstall it from there) but not on my local computer.

Still unable to run SW2017 after three install attempts. Any other suggestions?

I have the same issue. I am running SW 2017 SP2.0 on Windows 10 Version 1709 (Build 16229.125). This issue only came about after this Windows update was applied.

Here is what I have tried so far to no avail:

-Repair and reinstall Solidworks

-Could not find the vba71.msi and vba71_1033.msi files to attempt to uninstall them. I searched the whole drive, and my computer does not have the C:\Users\Andrew\Documents\SOLIDWORKS Downloads\SOLIDWORKS 2017 SP02\prereqs\VBA folder.

Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

I have a similar problem after updating Windows.

I tried all possible solutions and I got two partially working options:

1) Disabled the compatibility mode. Solidworks starts, opens files via the R button, runs VBA and runs macros, but it is impossible to create a new file and save it.

2) I switched on the compatibility mode. Removed VBA71. Everything works as before, but I can not use macros. When you try to create or open a macro, SolidWorks closes with an error

Is there a regency that solves all problems?

I have a similar problem after updated Windows 10

But try this.

Remove VBA 7.1 Firstly.

Please follow these steps:

1. Run Windows command line (Window+R) - cmd
2. type this command - msiexec.exe /x{90120064-0070-0000-0000-4000000FF1CE}
3. Vba7.1 will Uninstaller

A recent Windows Update made some changes to Visual Basic VBA and Compatibility Mode. This summarises 2 solutions people have already made.

The first thing to check is that your PC is not running in compatibility mode (assuming you have a SolidWorks Edition that runs in your Windows Edition!).

Right Mouse Click on SolidWorks Icon >>> Select {Properties} with Left Mouse Button

Left Mouse Click the {Compatibility} Tab >>> Uncheck the box "Run this program in compatibility mode for:"

Left Mouse Click [Apply] Button >>> Left Mouse Click [OK] Button

This worked for me on two machines, another I tried this and tried repairing the install (Add or Remove Programs >>> Select SolidWorks >>> Repair)

In the end I had to resort to Alex's fix (see below), but now cannot use Macros to move Excel data into SolidWorks.

Incidentally you should be able to open SolidWorks without any fix, by opening (Double Clicking) a SolidWorks file, like a part, assembly or drawing. For some reason it does not try to initialise VBA? I still found myself trying to open Solid Works via the icon first thing in the morning at it became frustrating so went with the fix!

       Alex Taguchi     16-Dec-2016 13:01  (in response to Alvin Voigt)   

We found that uninstalling VSTA allows you to proceed. Otherwise, you may need to re-install VBA7.1 and then repair SOLIDWORKS to have it reinstall them.

The VBA 7.1 components do not show in Control Panel > Programs > Programs and Features. There are two ways to uninstall these components:

1. Right click on the respective MSI files from your source media and choose "Uninstall".

2. Specify an "msiexec /x" command line script. For example, to remove the components on an English machine, run the following two commands:

msiexec /x "<path to MSI>\vba71.msi

msiexec /x "<path to MSI>\vba71_1033.msi

Alternatively, you can specify the component GUID in the msiexec command. you can find the GUID in the Windows Registry Editor at:

"HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Uninstall"

Try opening this location:

C:\Program Files\SOLIDWORKS Corp\SOLIDWORKS\

and opening:

"SLDWORKS.exe"

Solved the problem for me.