Not Very Excel-lent

June 16, 2005 6:57 AM

Suddenly, when I double click on an Excel document to open it, it won't open the document (specific details inside): can this be fixed without reinstalling Excel or Office?

When I double click on an Excel document to open it, Excel (the program) opens, but the document doesn't open. Instead, I get an error message that reads:

"Windows cannot find 'C:\WINDOWS\Desktop\DOCUMENTNAME.xls'. You may have typed the name incorrectly in the Run dialog, or another open program cannot find a system file. To search for a a file, click the Start button, and then click Search."

Note that I'm not clicking on a shortcut to a document, but rather to a document saved on my desktop or in a folder on my C drive.

If I open Excel first and then open up the document using File->Open the document opens fine. Why is this happening and can it be fixed? It just started when I started my PC here at work yesterday.

I'm running Windows ME 4.9, and its Microsoft Excel 2000, if that matters

posted by anastasiav to Computers & Internet (4 answers total)

Give this fix a try:
Excel Opens Without Displaying Workbook
posted by Otis at 7:45 AM on June 16, 2005

That's the message I get when I am a new user at a pc, which I do a lot. Office apps do a local user setup on 1st use. If WinME uses profiles, your profile could be corrupt.
posted by theora55 at 8:08 AM on June 16, 2005

Too lazy to follow Otis' link, but it probably says:
Tools | Options | General -> Uncheck "Ignore other Applications"
posted by misterbrandt at 9:55 AM on June 16, 2005

Thanks for your help with this annoying problem.
posted by anastasiav at 6:32 AM on June 22, 2005