Excel 2003 documents open slow or do not open.

[TW]

I can open Excel 2003, then click the file in the Recent list and/or the Filedouble-click the same Excel documents and it could take 30 seconds to 3
minutes to open up Excel and most of the time Excel opens up without opening
the workbook.

I can save an empty workbook and when i try to open the file it reacts the
same way as a workbook full of data.
I have repaired office.
I have completely wiped out the Windows XP user profile and started a new
thinkin it was a corruption in the profile and nothing.
Only thing left that I know would fix this is re-image the computer but I
would rather not have to deal with this in that matter.

Does anybody have any suggestions that I could try? Would be very much
appreciated.

Thanks ahead of time.

 

[Bob I]

If the problem is ONLY when you double-click on a file to open it. the
problem is likely due to DDE. It can be fixed by reinstalling, OR this
workaround.

Go to Control Panel, Folder Options, File Types, scroll down to and
select XLS, click Advanced, select Open entry, click the edit Button.
Now uncheck "Use DDE" and then put your cursor in the Application box,
arrow all the way to the right and put in "%1" (include the quote
marks), IF there is /dde remove it. Then OK you way out. Things should
work quickly again.

 

[ervinta]

Bob,
Thanks for the tip. It worked like a charm. It also works on word documents
as well.
ervinta

 

[Bob I]

You're welcome, have a great day!

Bob,
Thanks for the tip. It worked like a charm. It also works on word documents
as well.
ervinta

:

 

[Ross]

Hi all,

We've experienced similar problems with a lot of the clients on our network.
Does anyone know what's causing this behaviour in the first place?

The only thing I can think of is an upgrade to our A/V software (Trend
OfficeScan) that happened at or around the same time people started to
experience these issues.

Cheers,

Ross.

 

[Bob I]

The issue of A-V software "scanning" documents at the time they are
opened has caused nothing but grief for Office users for years. Disable
any form of Officescan, Office Plug-in, or other attachment scanning
addin as they provide NO additional security AND interfere with the
application woring properly.

 

[friction81]

Everywhere on the Internet people are suggesting disabling DDE, whic
has it's own share of problems (opening multiple copies of excel, erro
messages pertaining to personal.xls).

There's a simpler solution.

In excel, hold alt and press f11 to open the VBA editor, and remove an
VBA code in the Personal.xls project.

Voila, no more 60 second delay when opening the first excel document

 

[Sukubus]

--**If the problem is ONLY when you double-click on a file to open it.
the
problem is likely due to DDE. It can be fixed by reinstalling, OR this
workaround.

Go to Control Panel, Folder Options, File Types, scroll down to and
select XLS, click Advanced, select Open entry, click the edit Button.
Now uncheck "Use DDE" and then put your cursor in the Application box,
arrow all the way to the right and put in "%1" (include the quote
marks), IF there is /dde remove it. Then OK you way out. Things should
work quickly again**--.

--I followed your instructions above and now when I double click an
excel file on my desktop, it shows a lot of ! boxes like
'C:\documents.xls' could not be found. check the spelling of the file
name....

When I click ok another box opens and says 'and.xls' could not be
found. Check spelling of the file name, and verify that the file
location is correct. If you are trying to open the file from your list
of most recently used files, make sure it hasn't been renamed....

If I open Excel first, then open the file from there, it opens fine.

Any suggestions?

thanks very much--

 

[friction81]

Try putting it back the way it was and using my suggestion

 

[Sukubus]

I opened up the VBA editor. I wasn't sure what you meant by removin
any VBA code in the Personal.xls project. If it makes any differenc
I'm using 2003. In the editor it shows VBAProject and a folder title
Microsoft Excel Objects

 

[friction81]

Not sure what the process is for 2003, but I imagine the cause is th
same - having VBA code running on the startup of Excel (perhaps book.xl
- the 2003 equivalent of personal.xls). Sorry I couldn't be more help
if you figure out the 2003 solution please post it so that others ca
look it up

 

[Bob I]

Sounds like you didn't follow the instructions correctly. Go to Excel,
Help, Detect and Repair.

 

[jwade]

Sounds like you didn't follow the instructions correctly. Go to Excel,
Help, Detect and Repair.

Bob, I had the exact same issue after trying this. I can't figure ou
what I am doing wrong. I am also using Excel 2003. If I go back i
after I make these changes, 'Use DDE' is checked again. Is ther
another setting that would make it do that?

Lastly, I wanted to check to see if you think this issue applies to m
problem. I especially have this problem when openinig Excel attachment
in Outlook Express. However, it is inconsistent. Some times it open
right up, but it usually takes 30-60 seconds. It is a brand ne
computer so it has plenty of horse power. If I open the Task Manage
and watch it while it is opening the file, Outlook Express temporaril
switches to 'not responding' while the Excel file is opening but the
goes back to 'running' after it is open.

Any ideas?

Joh

 

[Bob I]

Sounds more like the issue is anti-virus scan related, and possibly the
temp area that windows uses when you open attachments directly could
probably be cleaned up. Start with running Disk Cleanup and then a
Defragging. See Windows Help for instructions.

 

[Mack_Bulldog]

I just found the same issue. I uninstalled a virus scan software which
unknowingly dl'ed when upgrading my Adobe Flashplayer. After a restart
all things back to normal

 

[Mezmaron]

After doing the DDE fix (removing the /e and replacing it with "%1" an
unchecking the Use DDE box) and then undoing it (deleting the "%1" an
adding back the /e, rechecking Use DDE and putting [open("%1")] back i
the DDE Message: field) the %1 will keep coming back at the end of th
command line (in the Application used to perform action: field), and yo
get lots of error messages when opening Excel files afterward.

All you have to do is add quotes around the %1 that it keeps adding t
the end, and the problem is solved