Opening excel file with front page

[jbherman]

Several months ago, when trying to open an excel file, a dialogue box popped indicating it was trying to use Front Page, then sent an error message indicating I had to insert the disk. I do have Front Page on the computer, but have never used it. I think this happened after inadvertently using an Microsoft update. Now the only way I can open an excel file is by using the Run command for Excel, then selecting the file. Does anyone know how I can change this for Excel to open without trying to go through Front Page.

By the way, I have Windows XP home edition and MS Office.

Thanks - Jim

[Bryan Hessey]

Several months ago, when trying to open an excel file, a dialogue box popped indicating it was trying to use Front Page, then sent an error message indicating I had to insert the disk. I do have Front Page on the computer, but have never used it. I think this happened after inadvertently using an Microsoft update. Now the only way I can open an excel file is by using the Run command for Excel, then selecting the file. Does anyone know how I can change this for Excel to open without trying to go through Front Page.

By the way, I have Windows XP home edition and MS Office.

Thanks - Jim

Hi,

try a rightmouse select on a .xls filetype, and 'Open With', 'Choose Program' and tick Always Use when selecting Excel.

Let me know how you go.
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[jbherman]

Thanks for the reply. I had actually tried that before but when I do that the same dialogue box comes up.

[Bryan Hessey]

Thanks for the reply. I had actually tried that before but when I do that the same dialogue box comes up.

Did the default change?

In Explore (My Computer) select Tools, Folder Options, Filetypes and scroll down to .xls

Does that show Excel ?

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[jbherman]

for XLS it shows XLS File

[Bryan Hessey]

for XLS it shows XLS File

OK - but does it show that MS Office Excel will open that filetype, as per the attached.

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[jbherman]

When I scroll down to the "XLS" extension - beside it it shows for File Types as "XLS File"

Then below the box showing all extensions and file types, there is another box titled "Details for "XLS" extension". Then, inside the box, the tope lines is:

Opens with (then shows XL green log) - Microsoft Excel then a Change button.

Below this it has verbatum "you have customized files with extension "XLS". To restore these files to their default type (Microsoft Excel Worksheet), click Restore", then there this is the Restore button. I wish I knew how to copy all this as an image as you have, but couldn't find a way to do that. This is obviously quite difference from how it is written in yours. Would using the restore command take it back.

[Bryan Hessey]

When I scroll down to the "XLS" extension - beside it it shows for File Types as "XLS File"

Then below the box showing all extensions and file types, there is another box titled "Details for "XLS" extension". Then, inside the box, the tope lines is:

Opens with (then shows XL green log) - Microsoft Excel then a Change button.

Below this it has verbatum "you have customized files with extension "XLS". To restore these files to their default type (Microsoft Excel Worksheet), click Restore", then there this is the Restore button. I wish I knew how to copy all this as an image as you have, but couldn't find a way to do that. This is obviously quite difference from how it is written in yours. Would using the restore command take it back.

Hi,

I would like to say 'yes', but prefer to know why it is doing this first.

If you have backups of these files, then yes, but if not, and if the process could damage the files, then obviously 'NO'.

to copy a screen pic as I did, press the Print Screen button, and then open Paint and Paste into there, use Attributes to trim the height & width and save as .jpg

Another option is to re-register Excel, with Excel closed do
Start, Run, Excel /unregister

then Start, Run, Excel /Register

Does that help?
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[jbherman]

I haven't been able to figure out how to register and unregister. When I do the start - run - excel I see nothing about registering. I managed to make an image of what my folder options shows for the XLS extension and will try to put it in this message.

[Bryan Hessey]

I haven't been able to figure out how to register and unregister. When I do the start - run - excel I see nothing about registering. I managed to make an image of what my folder options shows for the XLS extension and will try to put it in this message.

Hi,

select Start
select Run
type Excel /unregister
press Enter

select Start
select Run
type Excel /Register
press Enter

this should reset some defaults.

Let me know how you go
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[jbherman]

Back again. I did as you instructed. When I ran the unregister command, it brought up a blank worksheet along with the series of dialog boxes relating to trying to configure it with Front Page. Then when I did the register command, the same thing. I restarted the computer but no change when trying to bring up an access file.

I finally figured out how to send attached images which are attached.

[Bryan Hessey]

Back again. I did as you instructed. When I ran the unregister command, it brought up a blank worksheet along with the series of dialog boxes relating to trying to configure it with Front Page. Then when I did the register command, the same thing. I restarted the computer but no change when trying to bring up an access file.

I finally figured out how to send attached images which are attached.

Hi,

and thanks for the pics, it's a pointer in the right direction.

Strange about the /unregister requests, was there an option in that configure page to NOT have Frontpage?

Another source of 'defaults' is
C:\Documents and Settings\HomeUser\Application Data\Microsoft\Excel\Excel11.xlb

the folder may differ depending on login name.

When you are out of Excel you can remove Excel11.xlb and it will self-generate next time you start Excel. This file is your personal settings file, you may need to restore this file (if it is not the culprit) or re-set any settings (if it was).

I have not yet located any writings on this error, but will keep looking.

Let me know how you go.
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[jbherman]

okay - I tried the documents and settings route, actually two folders with application data, but neither showed Excel as a subfolder of Microsoft.

Although the problem hasn't been solved yet, I'm sure using parts of my computer that I never saw before so thanks for the help.

[Bryan Hessey]

okay - I tried the documents and settings route, actually two folders with application data, but neither showed Excel as a subfolder of Microsoft.

Although the problem hasn't been solved yet, I'm sure using parts of my computer that I never saw before so thanks for the help.

ok -

so try rightmouse the Start button, Search and search for .xlb files

put *.xlb in All or part of the filename

search in local C: drive

search (advanced features) system, hidden and subfolders

let me know what you find
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[jbherman]

Back again finally. Found one file as per attached image.

[Bryan Hessey]

Back again finally. Found one file as per attached image.

Hi,

If you're using Excel 2000 that's the one, close Excel, rename it to hide it, then start Excel.

Let me know what happens then.
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[jbherman]

Hi,

If you're using Excel 2000 that's the one, close Excel, rename it to hide it, then start Excel.

Let me know what happens then.
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Okay - I renamed the file to Excel10renamed.xlb, then closed the search window. I then tried to start Excel, same series of dialogue boxes relating to Front Page.

[Bryan Hessey]

Okay - I renamed the file to Excel10renamed.xlb, then closed the search window. I then tried to start Excel, same series of dialogue boxes relating to Front Page.

ok - from another site:


I'm not sure if this will help, but try the following:

Go to the Windows Start menu, and choose Run.
Enter Excel.exe /regserver

This will cause Excel to start up, rewrite all its registry keys,
and then quit. Now try starting Excel normally.

and let me know how you go
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[jbherman]

ok - from another site:


I'm not sure if this will help, but try the following:

Go to the Windows Start menu, and choose Run.
Enter Excel.exe /regserver

This will cause Excel to start up, rewrite all its registry keys,
and then quit. Now try starting Excel normally.

and let me know how you go
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Unbelievable - it worked!!! An interesting thing is that when I went back to check the XLS extension in folder options - it still shows the same as I had before. But it has completely eliminated Front Page. You obviously know your stuff to have figured that out. Thanks a lot

Jim

[jbherman]

Forgot to mention I did reboot it to make sure it would still work after that, and it did. Also, should be changing the renamed xlb file back to its original name.

Thanks - Jim

[Bryan Hessey]

Forgot to mention I did reboot it to make sure it would still work after that, and it did. Also, should be changing the renamed xlb file back to its original name.

Thanks - Jim

majic

yes on the xlb if you need any options that were there, if not it has already re-generated to the defaults.

Good to see this one work (the next option was to find the CD), and thanks for the response.
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