Troubleshooting 'Failed to Parse Element: VersionOverrides' Errors in Event Viewer

If you've been noticing a flurry of 'Failed to parse element: VersionOverrides' errors in your Event Viewer, you're not alone. Many users have reported experiencing this issue, particularly after updating their Microsoft Office installation. In this article, we'll delve into the root causes of these errors and provide troubleshooting steps to help you resolve them.

One common observation among affected users is that their P1 and P4 parameters are consistently blank. For instance, in the screenshot below, the highlighted alert was triggered by purging the Junk folder in MS Outlook 2019.

The error message typically appears as follows:

Failed to parse element: VersionOverrides Id=d949f36b-4eb7-4269-8eae-db0a399b7ca2, DisplayName=Transcribe, Provider=Microsoft Office Services, StoreType=SdxRdx, StoreId=(null) P1: Apps for Office P2: 9.20000 P3: 0x8004323E P4: New Document

Upon closer inspection, you may notice that the first parameter (P1) is always 'Apps for Office,' while the last parameter (P4) is consistently 'New Document.' The second and third parameters (P2 and P3), however, can vary.

It's essential to note that these errors are typically logged as Information-level events in the Event Viewer. If you're experiencing a high volume of these errors, it may be worth investigating whether older alerts have been purged from your Event Viewer log.

In my case, I've noticed that my P1 parameter is always a 6-digit number (e.g., 300894), while my P2 parameter corresponds to my Office build version. The 'Failed to parse element: VersionOverrides' errors in my event log coincide with the date I updated from Windows 10 Pro v1909 to v2004.

If you're not seeing these errors, it's possible that your Microsoft Office installation is up-to-date and free of any issues. However, if you're experiencing these errors, there are a few potential causes worth exploring:

1. Outdated Office version: Ensure that your Microsoft Office installation is current and up-to-date.

2. Corrupted add-ins: Disable any recently installed add-ins or plugins to see if they're causing the issue.

3. Conflict with other software: Investigate whether another software application is interfering with your Office installation.

In conclusion, the 'Failed to parse element: VersionOverrides' errors in Event Viewer are a common phenomenon affecting many Microsoft Office users. By identifying the P1 and P4 parameters as consistently 'Apps for Office' and 'New Document,' respectively, you can better understand the root cause of these errors. If you're still experiencing issues after troubleshooting, it may be worth seeking assistance from Microsoft Support or your IT department.

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