How to Fix Office Side-by-Side Error (Event ID 59) in Windows
Question details
Users are unable to open Microsoft Office applications due to a side-by-side execution failure.
- Product
- Microsoft Office
- Device & OS
- Windows
- Scenario
- Attempting to launch Microsoft PowerPoint, Access, or Excel on a Windows computer.
- Observed behavior
- The applications fail to open, and the Windows Application event log records SideBySide Event ID 59, indicating that the application manifest contains invalid XML syntax.
Ensure you have a stable internet connection and have saved any background work, as performing an Online Repair will require downloading fresh installation files and restarting your computer.
Perform an Online Repair for Microsoft Office
Use the built-in Windows repair tool to replace corrupted Office installation files and fix the invalid XML manifests causing the error.
The Side-by-Side Event ID 59 error typically indicates that the internal files Windows uses to launch Office apps are damaged. Running an Online Repair is the most effective way to completely refresh these core files without manually editing system directories.
Reboot your PC first to ensure that no corrupted background processes or stuck Office components are currently locked in the system memory.
Right-click the Start menu icon and select 'Apps and Features' or 'Installed apps', depending on your specific version of Windows.
Scroll down the list of installed applications, click on 'Microsoft Office' (or click the three-dot menu next to it), and select 'Modify'.
In the pop-up window, select the 'Online Repair' option and click 'Repair'. Follow the on-screen prompts to allow Windows to download and apply clean Office files.
Once the repair process finishes, restart Windows again. Try opening PowerPoint, Access, or Excel to verify that the issue is resolved.
Review Event Viewer and Reinstall Office
If the repair does not work, you must identify the exact failing module in the Event Viewer and perform a clean reinstallation.
Switch to WPS Office to Avoid Side-by-Side Errors
If Microsoft Office continues to suffer from registry corruption or invalid XML manifests, consider switching to WPS Office. It is a highly compatible, lightweight, and free alternative that opens your existing documents without relying on the complex Windows Side-by-Side execution architecture.
- 1. Download the installer: Visit the official WPS Office website and click the 'Free Download' button.
- 2. Install WPS Office: Run the downloaded executable file and follow the simple installation wizard.
- 3. Open your files: Double-click your existing PowerPoint, Excel, or Word documents to open them instantly in WPS Office.
Frequently Asked Questions
What causes the SideBySide Event ID 59 error in Windows?
This error occurs when the application manifest (an XML file that tells Windows how to handle the app's components) contains invalid syntax or becomes corrupted. This prevents Windows from building the correct environment, causing apps like Excel or PowerPoint to fail on launch.
Will an Online Repair delete my Office files or settings?
No, running an Online Repair for Microsoft Office will only replace the corrupted installation and application files. Your personal documents, spreadsheets, presentations, and most account settings will remain perfectly safe.
Is there a difference between Quick Repair and Online Repair for Office?
Yes. A Quick Repair uses locally stored files to fix common issues and is much faster. An Online Repair downloads completely clean, up-to-date files from Microsoft's servers, which takes longer but is necessary for resolving deep errors like invalid XML manifests in Event ID 59.
Where can I find the SideBySide event logs in Windows?
You can view these logs by right-clicking the Start menu, selecting 'Event Viewer', and navigating to 'Windows Logs' > 'Application'. Look for errors in the list marked with the source 'SideBySide'.
