Excel keeps opening multiple files

  • Thread starter Thread starter Terri Creagh
  • Start date Start date
T

Terri Creagh

This is a follow-up to my previous message with additional information.



I have an urgent problem! All of a sudden, when I opened MSExcel 2000, it
tried to open many, many files, one right after the other, without regard to
the file format. It also kept giving a "format is not valid" message with
every document. I am running Windows 2000 and Microsoft Office 2000 Small
Business (version 9.0.3822) on a Dell Dimension 8100 with lots of RAM and
lots of conventional memory. This computer is not networked. My firewall
is ZoneAlarm and I have Norton Antivirus. MS Office 2000 was pre-installed
by Dell, I have tried re-installing MSOffice 2000, but that did not fix the
problem. I am unable to get into Excel to change any options, because every
time I open it, it just begins opening one file after another and does not
give me the opportunity to change settings.



I tried opening Excel while holding down the Shift key as the Knowledge Base
suggests, but that does not help.
 
Click Start, and then click Run.
In the Open box, type either of the following:

1.. Excel.exe /safe
-or-
2.. Excel.exe /automation
3.. Click OK.
Once you start Excel this way, go to Tools Options General and clear out
anything in the box that says At Startup Open all files in

(knowledge base talks about holding CTRL key down to get into safe mode or using
escap key but didnt see anything in regards to the SHIFT key)



: This is a follow-up to my previous message with additional information.
:
:
:
: I have an urgent problem! All of a sudden, when I opened MSExcel 2000, it
: tried to open many, many files, one right after the other, without regard to
: the file format. It also kept giving a "format is not valid" message with
: every document. I am running Windows 2000 and Microsoft Office 2000 Small
: Business (version 9.0.3822) on a Dell Dimension 8100 with lots of RAM and
: lots of conventional memory. This computer is not networked. My firewall
: is ZoneAlarm and I have Norton Antivirus. MS Office 2000 was pre-installed
: by Dell, I have tried re-installing MSOffice 2000, but that did not fix the
: problem. I am unable to get into Excel to change any options, because every
: time I open it, it just begins opening one file after another and does not
: give me the opportunity to change settings.
:
:
:
: I tried opening Excel while holding down the Shift key as the Knowledge Base
: suggests, but that does not help.
:
:
 
Terri,

First, open Excel in Safe mode. To do this, go to the Windows
Start menu, choose Run, and enter

Excel.exe /s

Then, with Excel open, go to the Tools menu, choose Options, then
the General tab. There, ensure that there is nothing in the text
box labeled "Alternate Startup Directory".


--
Cordially,
Chip Pearson
Microsoft MVP - Excel
Pearson Software Consulting, LLC
www.cpearson.com
 
Back
Top