When ArcGIS applications fail, or are behaving strangely, one of the first things to try is to reset your application template document (ArcMap's is "Normal.mxt") or the entire ArcGIS application profile. This resolves many problems with ArcGIS software.
It's a good idea to do this as a every few months, or whenever a service pack or update is applied to ArcGIS, as these template files gradually fill with cruft and slow down your ArcGIS Desktop applications.
The following is adapted from KB 32797: Error: ArcMap.exe has encountered an error and needs to close
1. Close all ArcGIS Desktop applications. This may include looking for any "headless" applications using the Task Manager.
2. Start Windows Explorer and open your application profile.
The location of the user profile depends on the operating system:
- XP/2003/2000: C:\Documents and Settings\<your user name>\Application Data\ESRI
- Vista/7/2008: C:\Users\<your user name>\AppData\Roaming\ESRI
- The Application Data or AppData folder is hidden by default. If this folder is not visible, navigate to Tools > Folder Options > View tab, and select the option to show hidden files and folders.
- The easiest way to get there is to just type the environment variable %APPDATA% into the Windows Explorer, which will take you directly to the folder that contains the application profile folder "ESRI", regardless of Windows version.
3. Browse within the ESRI folder and find the component of ArcGIS, ArcCatalog or ArcMap that is generating the error message.
4. Each component of the software has a template that stores settings and customizations for that part of ArcGIS. These are:
ArcCatalog: ESRI\DesktopXX.X\ArcCatalog\Normal.gxt
ArcMap: ESRI\DesktopXX.X\ArcMap\Templates\Normal.mxt
ArcToolbox window: ESRI\DesktopXX.X\ArcToolbox.dat
5. Rename the file (for example, Normal.mxt -> Normal_old.gxt). When that component of ArcGIS is started again, a new, fresh template is created. Note that some your customizations (buttons, file connections) may have to be re-applied.
It's a good idea to do this as a every few months, or whenever a service pack or update is applied to ArcGIS, as these template files gradually fill with cruft and slow down your ArcGIS Desktop applications.
The following is adapted from KB 32797: Error: ArcMap.exe has encountered an error and needs to close
1. Close all ArcGIS Desktop applications. This may include looking for any "headless" applications using the Task Manager.
2. Start Windows Explorer and open your application profile.
The location of the user profile depends on the operating system:
- XP/2003/2000: C:\Documents and Settings\<your user name>\Application Data\ESRI
- Vista/7/2008: C:\Users\<your user name>\AppData\Roaming\ESRI
- The Application Data or AppData folder is hidden by default. If this folder is not visible, navigate to Tools > Folder Options > View tab, and select the option to show hidden files and folders.
- The easiest way to get there is to just type the environment variable %APPDATA% into the Windows Explorer, which will take you directly to the folder that contains the application profile folder "ESRI", regardless of Windows version.
3. Browse within the ESRI folder and find the component of ArcGIS, ArcCatalog or ArcMap that is generating the error message.
4. Each component of the software has a template that stores settings and customizations for that part of ArcGIS. These are:
ArcCatalog: ESRI\DesktopXX.X\ArcCatalog\Normal.gxt
ArcMap: ESRI\DesktopXX.X\ArcMap\Templates\Normal.mxt
ArcToolbox window: ESRI\DesktopXX.X\ArcToolbox.dat
5. Rename the file (for example, Normal.mxt -> Normal_old.gxt). When that component of ArcGIS is started again, a new, fresh template is created. Note that some your customizations (buttons, file connections) may have to be re-applied.