setting seed for excel random number

You can implement your own random number generator using spreadsheet functions. For example, C++11 has a Lehmer random number generator called minstd_rand which is obtained by the recurrence

X = X*g (mod m)

where g = 48271 and m = 2^31-1

In A1 you can place your seed value. In A2 enter the formula:

=MOD(48271*A1,2^31-1)

and copy it down however far you need.

In B2 enter =A2/(2^31-1) and in C2 enter =NORM.INV(B2,10,1), copying as needed. Note that you can always replace the seed value in A1 by

=RANDBETWEEN(1,2^31-2)

if you want to turn volatile randomness back on.

The following screenshot shows 25 random normal variables generated in this fashion:

As you can tell from the histogram the distribution seems roughly normal.

You could use a VBA UDF() based on the Rnd() function. See:

Repeating random variables in VBA

I am not pretending that it is a perfect solution, but that works for me. The beauty of it, is that I can assign a random number to a particular cell:

Public Function GetRandom(seed As Double, min As Double, max As Double) As Double
    Dim colrow As Double
    Dim range As Double

    range = max - min
    If (Application.Caller.Column() = Application.Caller.Row()) Then
        colrow = (Log(Application.Caller.Column() + 1) * Log(Application.Caller.Row() + 1)) * seed
    Else
        colrow = (Log(Application.Caller.Column() + 1) / Log(Application.Caller.Row() + 1)) * seed
    End If
    Rnd (-1)
    Randomize colrow 
    test = Rnd * range - range / 2
    GetRandom = colrow 
End Function

Usage:

=GetRandom($Z$1,1,-1)

I my example, the seed value is in Z1 cell, but of course in can be in any other cell. It also allow me to setup min and max values.