stop opening several workbooks

Previously posted in Excel 2007 help forum with no replies.
excel 2007 windows 7
Whenever I open Excel 2007 (whether via desktop, taskbar or start button) I get 3 workbooks open. I have not connected these, at least not intentionally. Although I can easily tab thru them using alt+6 the nuisance is that I have to close each book separately.
An on line help suggested that the way to set this up initially was in View-Windows-Workspace. I have not set this up in this fashion, and have had a look to see if it can be undone, but couldn't see how. Also I was advised to try Office button-Excel options-Advanced and in the General tab remove folder name in "At startup, open all files in:" but this is empty. Have found nothing in Excel help about this. I just know there is a simple answer to this but I have been trying for some time now. Would appreciate any help.
Thanks bakert

Hello,

from Microsoft http://support.microsoft.com/kb/822107

Folders that Excel uses at startup
If you install Excel in the default location, Excel opens files from the following paths:

* In Microsoft Office Excel 2003, the path is C:\Program Files\Microsoft Office\Office11\Xlstart

In Microsoft Office Excel 2007, the path is C:\Program Files\Microsoft Office\Office12\Xlstart
* C:\Documents and Settings\User_name\Application Data\Microsoft\Excel\XLSTART

<bolding is mine>

Check out this folder on your system and delete any files therein.

In Windows 7, you might have to look in:

C:\Users\User_Name\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Excel\XLSTART

Regards

Close Excel, then navigate to the folder in Windows Explorer. Then delete them.

Regards

I can navigate as far as C:\Users\User_Name but then cannot see Appdata.

You may need to change the settings on your system to hide system folders.

this leaves with the problem of not being able to delete.

Reboot your machine and do not start any applications. Make sure that all Office applications are closed if they autostart on system boot.

Then delete the files.

If that does not help, start the computer in Safe Mode, then delete the files.

In Windows Explorer, click on Organize and then on Folder and Search Options.

Click on the View tab

Select Show hidden files, folders and drives. Click on OK.

You should now be able to see the folders.

If they are "full" files and not shortcuts, you will delete the file. By default it will go in the Recycle Bin. If you press the shift key while you press delete, it will be permanently deleted (with limited chance of recovery). If you think you might want to keep the files, move them to another folder.

What message do you get when you try to delete them?

It might be worth rebooting your computer and, before loading Excel, navigating to the folder and trying to delete the files.

Regards

@Teylyn: pretty much same hymn sheet, slightly different lyrics ;-)

@TM -- not on Win 7 yet, so I can't do a step by step. Thanks for providing this.

what's running in task manager? afaik win 7 tells you what's locking it anyway so op probably hasn't got win7

Martin

Previously posted in Excel 2007 help forum with no replies.
excel 2007 windows 7

Regards

i though win 7 actually includes the program locking it in the pop up?

Not quite; see attached .jpg

Regards

ah i apologise but the best bit is i clicked on cancel several times in your jpg before i realised i was trying to close an image DOH!

If you are satisfied with the solution(s) provided, please mark your thread as Solved.

How to mark a thread Solved
Go to the first post
Click edit
Click Go Advanced
Just below the word Title you will see a dropdown with the word No prefix.
Change to Solved
Click Save