Article ID: 304424 - Last Review: January 7, 2006 - Revision: 3.2

You click a file icon and Excel 2000 starts but the file does not open as expected

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This article was previously published under Q304424
IMPORTANT: This article contains information about modifying the registry. Before you modify the registry, make sure to back it up and make sure that you understand how to restore the registry if a problem occurs. For information about how to back up, restore, and edit the registry, click the following article number to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:
256986  (http://support.microsoft.com/kb/256986/EN-US/ ) Description of the Microsoft Windows Registry
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SYMPTOMS

When you double-click the icon for a Microsoft Excel (.xls) file (or right-click the icon, and then click Open), Excel starts but the file does not open as expected. However, you are able to open the workbook when you click Open on the File menu in Excel.
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CAUSE

This behavior can occur because of conflicts with the file permissions.
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RESOLUTION

To resolve this issue, follow these steps:
  1. Double-click My Computer.
  2. On the Tools menu, click Folder Options.
  3. Click the File Types tab.
  4. Under Registered file types, click XLS Microsoft Excel Worksheet, and then click Delete.
  5. Click Yes to the Are you sure you want to remove this file extension? message.
  6. Click OK to close the Folder Options dialog box.
  7. Click Start, and then click Run.WARNING: If you use Registry Editor incorrectly, you may cause serious problems that may require you to reinstall your operating system. Microsoft cannot guarantee that you can solve problems that result from using Registry Editor incorrectly. Use Registry Editor at your own risk.

  8. In the Open box, type regedit, and then click OK.
  9. Locate the following registry key:
    HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Office\9.0
  10. Right-click the Excel key, and then click Rename.
  11. Type OldExcel.
  12. Locate the following registry key:
    HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Office\9.0
  13. Right-click the Excel key, and then click Rename.
  14. Type OldExcel.
  15. On the Registry menu, click Exit to quit Registry Editor.
  16. Start Excel, and then quit Excel.
  17. Double-click the Excel workbook icon (or right-click the Excel workbook icon, and then click Open) to open the file.
  18. In the Open With dialog box, click Microsoft Excel for Windows, and then click OK.
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MORE INFORMATION

For additional information about troubleshooting file-open issues in Excel, click the following article number to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:
207574  (http://support.microsoft.com/kb/207574/ ) Error message when opening a file by double-clicking the file name
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APPLIES TO
  • Microsoft Excel 2000 Standard Edition, when used with:
    • Microsoft Windows 2000 Standard Edition
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Keywords: 
kbopenfile kbprb KB304424
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