Excel Opens Existing Document not blank one

Hey all,

When I click the general Excel program icon that use to just open a blank excel workbook, it now always opens the same existing file (apples.xls) If I am clicking on a different existing file (pears.xls), excel opens pears.xls and apples.xls. What is going on?

Thank you for your help,

How to prevent files from automatically opening in Excel
Use one of the following methods to manually prevent files from automatically opening when you start Excel.
Remove files from the XLStart folder and from the alternative startup folders
To remove files from the XLStart folder and from the alternative startup folders, follow these steps:

1. Start Excel.

2. Follow the path to the options menu based on which version of Excel you are using.
Excel 2003
On the Tools Menu, click Options, and then click the General tab.
Excel 2007
Click the Microsoft Office Button, Click Excel Options, click the Advanced menu, locate the General section.
Excel 2010
Click File, click Options, Click the Advanced menu, locate the General section.

Originally Posted by Chance2

How to prevent files from automatically opening in Excel
Use one of the following methods to manually prevent files from automatically opening when you start Excel.
Remove files from the XLStart folder and from the alternative startup folders
To remove files from the XLStart folder and from the alternative startup folders, follow these steps:

1. Start Excel.

2. Follow the path to the options menu based on which version of Excel you are using.
Excel 2003
On the Tools Menu, click Options, and then click the General tab.
Excel 2007
Click the Microsoft Office Button, Click Excel Options, click the Advanced menu, locate the General section.
Excel 2010
Click File, click Options, Click the Advanced menu, locate the General section.

Thank you for this information. I have looked and I do not have any files in the "At Startup, open all files in" section.

Sorry I dont have xl2010 to tell you specifically where to look, but if you look at the properties of apples.xls there should be a dialog box that shows the location of the file. For my XP system it is this: "C:\Documents and Settings\<username>\Application Data\Microsoft\Excel\XLSTART".

Delete (or move) the file from that directory and restart Excel

Thank you again for your help.

I have found my XLSTART folder and it is empty, even looked at the Startup folder and it is empty. This just seems so odd.