when starting excel, .doc & .dat file come up ?????

[Guest]

When I got my new computer at work XP Pro operating, w/2003 Office pro, every
time I open Excel, about 12 .doc & .dat file pop up saying not excel format
files, and I have to say close to everyone. Then, if automatically defaults
to opening an excel file that is someone elses. I have tried running a
repair, uninstalling and reinstalling, and nothing works. Never, have I had
anything like this happen in my fifteen years. Any suggestions????? HELP it
really slows me down.

 

[Dave Peterson]

The first place I'd check is:
Tools|Options|General Tab
Make sure that the "at startup, open all files in:" box is empty.

If that already is empty, try:

Close Excel
Windows start button|Search
Look for the XLStart folder

Then open each of these folders to see what's in them. If you have those .doc
and .dat, then move them somewhere else (or if they're not needed, delete them).

 

[wjohnson]

Do a right click on a .doc and then see what program is assigned to
"Open" a "XXX.doc" type document. If it says "Excel" select change and
change all and select Word. You can also do the same for the "XXX.dat"
type document or select Wordpad or whatever you want.