Also check the range names (if there are any) - references to old files can lurk there and cause the update links message.
also, to be sure that you have removed the links, you could run a find on all sheets for ".xls" - IME even when you think you have deleted all links, there's always one (on a hidden sheet usually) that gets missed Rgds
Geoff
Vah! Denuone Latine loquebar? Me ineptum. Interdum modo elabitur