Error when opening shared Excel file on Windows XP machines, help!

[Nate Goulet]

Error when opening shared Excel file on Windows XP machines

I have several Excel 97 files shared on a Windows 2000 Server.

The Windows 98 machines open them fine, but the two Windows XP
Professional machines prompt a couple messages before opening the
files. I'd like to know how to solve this glitch.

I noticed if Excel is opened on the WinXP machines, the files open
right up without any messages.

Microsoft Excel
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------X
'\\NATESERVER\Natefilename.xls' could not be found. Check
the spelling of the file name, and verify that the file
location is correct.

(X)
If you are trying to open the file from your list of most
recently used files on the File menu, make sure that the file
has been renamed, moved or deleted.

(OK)

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Next messages apears the same, except the filename listed is a bit
different.

'Log\NATEFI~1.XLS' could not be found (rest of message is the same)

The shortcut properties for the icon on the desktop are the same on
the Win98 & XP machines:

Target "\\NATESERVER\Nate Log\Natefilename.xls"
Start In \\NATESERVER\Nate Log

I even attempted to re-create the shortcuts on a WinXP machine by
navigating to the folder where the files are on the server, and
re-create a shortcut to point to that file. Same problem. The files
do open fine, and I assume since it's Excel 97 on both the Win98 & XP
machines there shouldn't be any problems if the files get modified by
either type of machine, but i've noticed a few times with other
customers sometimes copying Office 97 files from a Win98 machine to XP
sometimes can produce a prompt first (the one i've seen wasn't this
one). I never really tried to find out why, but I suspect it has
something to do with the multiple profiles. Where as if the files
(from my other customers) were created on the WinXP machine in Office
97, they always open right up.

Does anyone know how to stop this message from apearing?

Thanks.

 

[Gord Dibben]

Nate

Your Excel file association may be lost.

Start>Run "excel.exe /regserver"(no quotes and note the space before the /
mark).

You may have to enter your full path to excel.exe....in that case surround
with quotes as in..... "C:\mypath\to Excel\somewhere\excel.exe" /regserver

If this doesn't do the trick.............

Try to un-register first then go back to /regserver as above.

Start>Run "excel.exe /unregserver"(no quotes and note the space before the /
mark).

If the above steps bring no joy..................

Go to Start>Settings>Folder>Options>File Types. Scroll down to MS Excel
Worksheet. Then if running Win98 OS Edit> select "Open" and Edit.

If using WinXP OS you would scroll down to .XLS then "Advanced">Open>Edit.

In Command line the path should be similar to this....

"C:\PROGRAM FILES\MICROSOFT OFFICE\OFFICE\EXCEL.EXE" /e (delete the <sp>/e if
you want Book1 to open.

You must have the double quotes.

Below have "use DDE" checked and this in the DDE message box....[open("%1")]

Application should read "Excel"(no quotes)

Gord Dibben Excel MVP

 

[Nate Goulet]

Start>Run "excel.exe /regserver"(no quotes and note the space before the /
mark).

Thanks Gord, I think that took care of it.

At first I didn't think it did. I went through your whole list and
had finished posting everying in this message. Then I logged onto the
PC as the administrator and tried the your first suggestion again,
then it seem to work fine on both Profiles.

I wish XP Pro had at least mentioned I don't have permission to make
that change or something like that.

Hopefully that was it, and it will stay working when I have a chance
to use it more & assign the new machine to it's user.

Thanks again,

Nate