Forum Discussion
Issue with Goal Seek suddenly not working - June 6, 2021
JoeUser2004...thank you for the response. I have no add-ins loaded so that is not the issue. Not sure what is going on as the issue now seems to come and go, but always manifests in the same way.
u144175 wrote: ``I have no add-ins loaded so that is not the issue``
Well, that's too bad. Since we have never been able to duplicate the problem, I had hoped it was that simple.
Also, it is too bad that the problem is intermittent for you. That means that if we suggest an experiment and the problem "goes away", we cannot say with impunity that it worked around the problem. The problem might return.
When you say that it "comes and goes", do you mean with the same data and formulas? Or with different data and/or formulas?
If the problem was consistent with the example in your original posting, and now it "comes and goes" with __that__ example, do you have any idea what changed?
And how often do you get bit by the problem? Hopefully often enough that if we suggest an experiment and the problem goes away "long enough" -- comes back "soon enough" after stopping the experiment, we can say with some confidence that the experiment points to the root cause?
Have you ever seen the problem using Solver instead of Goal Seek? If not, is there any reason not to use Solver instead?
(It would be nice to understand the root cause of the problem. But I suspect that is not __your__ primary interest.)
Finally, if you have an example that misbehaves in this way consistently or "most of the time", you might try starting Excel in safe mode and see if the problem "never" appears. Close all windows (*). Press __and_hold__ the Ctrl key, then click an Excel __program__ icon (not a file icon). You should get a yes-or-no prompt to continue in safe mode. Click yes. In Excel, click on Open to open the Excel file in safe mode.
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(*) Close all windows because otherwise, we cannot see the yes/no safe mode prompt. (sigh)
- It comes and go with different data / workbooks. When I first experienced the issue, it was within a large workbook I use virtually every day. That's when I created the simple example sheet I provided in my original post above to illustrate the situation. A week or two later, the issue went away and goal seek was working correctly again. Everything seemed ok until about a week ago and then I once again saw the same behavior, this time in a workbook that I only use occasionally (about once a month). Different workbook but same incorrect goal seek behavior. I did not attempt to use solver instead of goal seek. Goal seek is presently working again so any troubleshooting is moot right now however I will try solver and safe mode if/when I again see the aberrant goal seek behavior. Thanks for the suggestions on this very odd, intermittent issue. I do appreciate the help.
u144175 wrote: ``then I once again saw the same behavior, this time in a workbook that I only use occasionally (about once a month)``
Rats! Check astronomical tables for phases of the moon, alignment of planets, position of stars in zodiacal signs, solar flares, etc. Just kidding!
I usually find that "intermittent" problems are not as random as they might appear. Eventually, we recognize a pattern that points to a deterministic explanation.
Good luck!
PS.... One other variable to consider: automatic updates of Office 2019? I disable all automatic updates whenever possible. But IIRC, that is not possible with Office 365 -- which is why I avoid it like the plague. I don't know about Office 2019. I think MSFT has changed the notion of "standalone" software nowadays. (sigh)