file format is not valid

[Guest]

I am using Office 2003 Professional, Excel 2003 Professional

When I open Excel, I receive the error "new microsoft word document.doc:
file format is not valid". I can clear the error, and work fine in Excel.
This error occurs regardless of the method used to open Excel (desktop
shortcut, start menu, or access the executable file from the hard drive.)
Other users on the same PC do NOT experience this error.

I have confirmed the association of .doc files with Word (not Excel). The
error occurs before I have a chance to ask Excel to open any files.

How do I stop this error from appearing each time I open Excel?

 

[Guest]

Insure that there are no invalid files in you LXSTART folder since Excel will
attempt to open them.

 

[Guest]

Good try - it made sense - but the XLSTART folder is empty...

 

[Guest]

Then open Excel in Office Safe Mode. This will avoid any malicious macros,
etc.