Office 2003: File Association Problem 1

[Pleonasm]

A problem has only recently appeared on my Windows XP Pro SP2 PC. Opening a local Microsoft Office 2003 document by clicking on the file name displayed within Windows Explorer now results in about a 45 second delay before the application is launched and the document is loaded. However, if the Office application is invoked directly (through the Start -> All Programs menu), it starts promptly; and if the document is then selected from within it (using File -> Open), it opens instantly. The behavior occurs for Word 2003, Excel 2003 and PowerPoint 2003 files, but not for any other file type (e.g., .PDF).

Additional background:
* There is no malware on the machine (as reported by Norton Internet Security 2006, Webroot Spy Sweeper 5.0, Ad-Aware SE Professional, SpyBot, and RootkitRevealer).
* The PC is not joined to a network.
* Running “CHKDSK /R” and "sfc /scannow" did not reveal any problems.
* Running "winword /unregserver" followed by "winword /regserver" (and the same for "excel" and "powerpnt") has not corrected the problem.
* Running "Detect and Repair" on the Help Menu from Excel did not correct the problem.
* Running "Start, Control Panel, Add or Remove Programs, Microsoft Office 2003, Change, Detect and Repair errors in my Office installation" did not correct the problem.

What can you recommend to solve the problem?

Thank you for your assistance.

 

[xlhelp]

Please look at
thread68-1234074


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[Pleonasm]

Xlhelp, thanks for your post. I did confirm that for each action for the Office 2003 file extensions (.DOC/.XLS/.PPT) in Windows Explorer -> Tools -> Folder Options -> File Types, the specifications are correct (i.e., the "Application used to perform action," "Use DDE," "DDE Message," "Application," and "Topic").

Additionally, I had already tested the "/regserver" technique, and it did not correct the problem.

What other ideas might you recommend?

 

[xlhelp]

Have you tried opening the files with network disconneted?

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[Pleonasm]

Xlhelp, thanks again for continuing the conversation.

The PC is not joined to a network, “My Network Places" does not contain any shortcuts, and there are no FTP shortcuts on the PC.

Note that the issue I am describing is specific to the method by which an Office 2003 document is opened - namely, it occurs when clicking on a .DOC/.XLS/.PPT file within Windows Explorer, but not when using the File|Open procedures from within the application (Word/Excel/PowerPoint).

 

[xlhelp]

Under application used to perform action add "%1"
such as
"C:\Program Files\Microsoft Office\OFFICE11\EXCEL.EXE" /e "%1"

and see if it works with Use DDE checked and unchecked.


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[Pleonasm]

Xlhelp, through a comparison to a PC without the problem, I have confirmed that the file association specifications for .DOC/.XLS/.PPT (e.g., "%1", etc.) found at Windows Explorer, Tools, Folder Options, File Types are correct.

I tested disabling DDE in the file association specifications for .DOC, but that prevents Word from loading the document without otherwise positively impacting the problem.

Keep the ideas comin' . . .

 

[xlhelp]

What you might want to try is with minimum or no apps running, start up Task Manager and activate processes tab; minimize it. Double click on your file, maximize Task Manager and see which process is taking up most of the time.

Also, if you are running outlook, check to see if you have an offitems.log file on your system. If present, delete it; it will recreate itself.

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[Pleonasm]

Xlhelp, the CPU utilization is quite low in both intervals: (A) from the time an Office 2003 document name is clicked within Windows Explorer to the time the application starts; and (B) from the time the application starts to the time the document is loaded. I have used the Process Explorer utility by Sysinternals to try to uncover any abnormal task behavior, but have been unsuccessful in noticing anything of concern.

The subjective appearance of the system is that Windows Explorer is "waiting" for something when an Office 2003 document name is clicked within Windows Explorer, and after a time-out criterion is reached, the application then starts.

 

[xlhelp]

One more thing. If you are connected to the internet, then in IE under internet options, advanced tab, try unchecking "Check for publisher's certificate Revocation"

Other than that I am running out of ideas.....

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[Pleonasm]

Much to my surprise and chagrin, the root source of the problems documented in this thread is the installation of a new sound card driver. Reverting to the original driver solved the difficulties.

 

[xlhelp]

That's me

At least good learning experience

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