Shortcut anomaly

[Guest]

I am unable to open Excel 2003 Standard (XLS) files via shortcut icons. Now,
for the good stuff: The XPS files in question will open when double-clicked
directly, or when accessed from Excel, i.e. File, Open, etc. The shortcut
icons are correctly mapped to the XLS files. Regardless of how the icons are
created, i.e. right-click, New, Shortcut, or right-click on the XLS file and
select Send to. . ., the results are common: “Windows cannot find
‘C:\Documents and Settings\FolderName\FileName.XLS’. Make sure you typed the
name correctly, and then try again. . . .†The OS (Windows XP) is up to date
with all patches and Service Packs, and is free of viruses, worms, and any
other maladies. This involves XLS shortcuts from any location, and XLS files
from any source. All other Office products, Word, Power Point, etc function
as advertised. This issue was recently posted, but with no responce. I am
having no success locating a solution. Any help is appreciated.

 

[Nightowl]

I am unable to open Excel 2003 Standard (XLS) files via shortcut icons. Now,
for the good stuff: The XPS files in question will open when double-clicked
directly, or when accessed from Excel, i.e. File, Open, etc. The shortcut
icons are correctly mapped to the XLS files. Regardless of how the icons are
created, i.e. right-click, New, Shortcut, or right-click on the XLS file and
select Send to. . ., the results are common: “Windows cannot find
‘C:\Documents and Settings\FolderName\FileName.XLS’. Make sure you
typed the
name correctly, and then try again. . . .†The OS (Windows XP) is up
to date
with all patches and Service Packs, and is free of viruses, worms, and any
other maladies. This involves XLS shortcuts from any location, and XLS files
from any source.

Was that just an example, or does Windows really look for the target
files in \Documents and Settings\Foldername regardless of where the
shortcut is actually pointing?

Just a suggestion: might it be worth trying deleting XLS from the known
file types (any folder window > Tools > Folder Options > File Types),
rebooting and then adding it again?

 

[Guest]

The path ". . .\Documents and Settings\Foldername. . ." is just an example.
I will try the suggestion and get back. Thanks.

 

[Guest]

Nightowl,
I tried the suggestion: The results are negative. I rebooted the PC twice,
once after removing the XLS extension, and again after restoring the XLS
extension. This suggestion sounded good. Any other suggestions? Thanks for
the brain cells and time.

 

[Nightowl]

Nightowl,
I tried the suggestion: The results are negative. I rebooted the PC twice,
once after removing the XLS extension, and again after restoring the XLS
extension. This suggestion sounded good. Any other suggestions? Thanks for
the brain cells and time.

Hmm. . . I don't think it's a shortcut problem as such: for example, if
I make a new shortcut on the desktop to a file, then delete the file,
clicking on the shortcut pops up a little window in which Windows starts
searching for the file, or offers me a chance to browse to it -- not a
"can't find the file" message. This bears out what you've seen, that
your other shortcuts are all working correctly.

I found this article online that sounds very similar to your situation
(don't be put off by the fact that he's talking about a server at first,
it turned out the server had nothing to do with it Sorry about the
length of the link; It's just a Google cached article, but if you open
the non-cached version you can't view the discussion without
subscribing. Scroll right down past the huge ad, don't click the "View
Solution" button

<http://216.239.59.104/search?q=cach...g_Systems/SBS_Small_Business_Server/Q_2213726
6.html>

Anyway, what finally fixed it for the poster was to use the Help >
Detect and Repair function within Excel. Can you give that a try and let
us know how you get on?

 

[Guest]

Nightowl,

This looked good going in, the Detect/Repair concluded with a "Success"
message. The results, however, are the same. Currently, the person accessing
the Excel files is doing so from within Excel. I'm treating this as a
temporary work around since shortcuts to XLS files should start Excel when
clicked on. Excel (2003) has been reinstalled, but with no improvement.
Still more brain cells and time are needed. Thanks.