How to Fix Excel Ordinal 38908 DLL Error in Microsoft Office
Question details
The user needs to resolve the Excel ordinal 38908 error referencing mso30win32client.dll to successfully launch and use Microsoft Office applications.
- Product
- Microsoft Excel
- Device & OS
- Windows
- Scenario
- Attempting to launch Excel or use certain spreadsheet add-ins, resulting in a system DLL crash or popup error.
- Observed behavior
- Excel displays an ordinal 38908 error pointing to the mso30win32client.dll file, preventing the application from functioning normally.
Ensure you have administrator privileges on your Windows computer, as repairing Office installations and running system file checks require elevated permissions.
Run the Microsoft Office Repair Tool
Use the built-in Windows repair utility to fix corrupted or missing Office files causing the DLL error.
The most common cause of the ordinal 38908 error is a corrupted Microsoft Office installation. Running the native repair tool can restore the problematic mso30win32client.dll file.
Click the Start menu, type 'Control Panel', and open it. Navigate to 'Programs' > 'Programs and Features'.
Locate 'Microsoft Office' in your list of installed programs, right-click it, and select 'Change'.
Select the 'Quick Repair' option and click 'Repair'. Follow the on-screen prompts. If the issue persists afterward, repeat these steps and select 'Online Repair'.
Once the repair process finishes, restart your computer to fully apply the changes.
Run System File Checker (SFC)
Scan and repair underlying Windows system files that might be triggering the Office DLL error.
Disable Incompatible Add-ins
Remove or update third-party add-ins, specifically those dependent on OpenSSL, which may conflict with Excel.
Try WPS Office to Avoid Complex DLL Errors
If Microsoft Excel continues to display the ordinal 38908 error despite troubleshooting, consider switching to WPS Office. It is a highly compatible, free, and lightweight alternative that installs smoothly without complex registry dependencies.
- 1. Download the Installer: Visit the official WPS Office website and download the free installer for Windows.
- 2. Install the Software: Run the installer. The lightweight setup takes only a few minutes to complete.
- 3. Open Your Spreadsheets: Launch WPS Spreadsheet and instantly open your existing Excel files without experiencing DLL errors.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does the mso30win32client.dll error mean in Excel?
This error indicates that a dynamic link library (DLL) file required by Microsoft Office to run smoothly is either corrupted, missing, or conflicting with your current Windows configuration.
Can a Windows update cause the Excel ordinal 38908 error?
Yes, incomplete or incompatible Windows updates can sometimes break the dependencies for Microsoft Office files, leading to ordinal errors. Checking for the latest updates or rolling back a recent update may help.
Do I need to reinstall Office if the repair tool fails?
If both the Quick Repair and Online Repair options fail to resolve the DLL error, and system file checks show no issues, completely uninstalling and reinstalling Microsoft Office is the next recommended step.
