FAQ
TL;DR: On Windows XP with Office 2010, 20 PCs saw Word/Excel fail; "You need to uninstall KB4461522, and after the trouble." Remove that Office update to clear the KERNEL32.dll GetDataFormatEx error. [Elektroda, jarrod, post #17563276]
Why it matters: For XP + Office 2010 users asking how to fix Word/Excel startup crashes, this avoids risky system file changes.
Quick Facts
- Affected stack: Windows XP systems running Microsoft Office 2010 experience Word/Excel startup failures. [Elektroda, Luc0as, post #17563092]
- Root cause: It’s an Office 2010 update issue, not a Windows XP OS update. [Elektroda, CYRUS2, post #17579628]
- Symptom: “no GetDataFormatEx procedure in Kernel32.dll” when launching Word/Excel; other apps like Corel and Firefox still work. [Elektroda, CYRUS2, post #17559765]
- Resolution: In Add/Remove Programs, enable “Show updates,” remove the recent Office update entry, then reboot. [Elektroda, Kolobos, post #17560188]
- Context: Windows XP stopped receiving new OS updates; last ones were around 2017. [Elektroda, Kolobos, post #17559917]
What causes the “no GetDataFormatEx in KERNEL32.dll” error on Windows XP with Office 2010?
An Office 2010 update triggers this on XP. Users traced the crash to KB4461522, which prevents Word and Excel from starting. As one admin put it, “KB4461522 is the culprit.” Removing that update restores normal app launch. [Elektroda, Luc0as, post #17563092]
How do I remove a recent Office update on Windows XP?
Use Add/Remove Programs with updates visible. 1. Open Add/Remove Programs and tick “Show updates.” 2. Locate the latest Microsoft Office 2010 update entry. 3. Click Remove and restart Windows. Relaunch Word/Excel to confirm the fix. [Elektroda, Kolobos, post #17560188]
Which update should I uninstall to fix Word/Excel crashes?
Uninstall KB4461522. One admin resolved the issue on 20 company PCs by removing this update. “You need to uninstall KB4461522, and after the trouble.” Reboot after removal and test Office apps. [Elektroda, jarrod, post #17563276]
Do I need to reinstall Windows XP to fix this?
No. This is not a corrupted KERNEL32.DLL or XP problem. The malfunction comes from an Office 2010 update. Remove the Office update and test Word/Excel again. [Elektroda, CYRUS2, post #17579628]
Should I reinstall Office 2010 after uninstalling the update?
Usually you do not need to. If Word/Excel still fail after removing the update, reinstall Office 2010 to verify. “Office can be reinstalled and checked if it will work.” [Elektroda, Kolobos, post #17560188]
Do I also need to remove KB2863821?
Some systems showed both KB2863821 and KB4461522. Start by uninstalling KB4461522. If issues persist, remove KB2863821 as well. As one user concluded, “KB4461522 is the culprit.” [Elektroda, Luc0as, post #17563092]
I can’t uninstall Office 2010 and it says Office 2003 is damaged—what should I do?
Open Add/Remove Programs, enable “Show updates,” and remove the Office update entries. If the uninstaller is broken, reinstall Office 2010, then remove the updates again. This approach verifies and resets the installer state. [Elektroda, Kolobos, post #17560188]
Why am I seeing updates on XP if Microsoft ended support?
Because the problematic package is an Office 2010 update, not a Windows XP OS update. Removing that Office update resolves the launch failures. [Elektroda, CYRUS2, post #17579628]
Which applications are affected or unaffected by this issue?
Microsoft Word and Excel fail with the KERNEL32.DLL GetDataFormatEx error. Corel, Firefox, and internet access continue working normally on the same system. [Elektroda, CYRUS2, post #17559765]
Should I replace KERNEL32.DLL from the XP CD or edit the registry?
Do not replace system DLLs or edit the registry. The error stems from an Office update, not a damaged KERNEL32.DLL. Uninstall the Office update instead. [Elektroda, CYRUS2, post #17579628]
How widespread is this Office 2010 update issue on XP?
One administrator reported fixing the crash on 20 computers by removing KB4461522. That indicates a broad impact across similar XP + Office 2010 setups. [Elektroda, jarrod, post #17563276]
When did Windows XP last receive official OS updates?
A forum expert notes the last XP updates were around 2017. New OS patches are no longer provided for XP systems. [Elektroda, Kolobos, post #17559917]
How do I check what was installed recently on my XP machine?
Open Add/Remove Programs and enable “Show updates.” Review the latest entries to see recent Windows and Office changes. Remove suspect Office updates and reboot. [Elektroda, Kolobos, post #17560188]
Does this affect Office versions other than 2010?
This thread documents failures with Office 2010 on XP. No other Office versions were confirmed here. If similar errors appear, audit and remove recent updates first. [Elektroda, Luc0as, post #17563092]
