Unable to read file - KB 812384

[Sree MV]

My office XP + SP2 s showing the symptoms described in
the KB 812384. I would like to get the fix for it but I
cant spend hours on the phone talking to the support
center like it suggests I do. Is there another way?

 

[Steve]

I had a text file in my xlstart folder. I think I could
have removed that and excel would open.
1. If you can open a new xl file then disable all the add-
ins.
2. Move all files from xlstart folders (make the xlstart
folders empty). I zipped the files and then deleted
the .xls or .xlt file and then
I right clicked on the zip file and clicked cut. I then
moved up one level and right clicked on empty space and
clicked paste.
That should do it.
If that doesn't do it, disable the anti-virus by typing
ctrl+alt+delete and locate your anti-virus, select the AV
and click on end task. It may take some time for the
confirmation. If it takes more than 30s do the above
again.
If that does it, then restore the file one at a time and
check your xl file each time.