Office issues since Service Pack2

[theguru97321]

Ever since I installed Service Pack 2 on 4 completely different systems, every time I open Excel or Publisher I get an error about not being able to find a file. If I open a file, it works fine. But if I just launch the application, I have to find a file to open, even if I just want a new document.

Windows XP Pro - Office 2003

Anyone else see this, or fix it?

 

[linney]

If it were a virus (and like you I have my doubts), I did read that it may hide under the name ***.xls where *** = the computer name of the machine.

The size of my Excel.exe is 10,080,960 bytes if you want to compare yours (not that this may mean much).

 

[crobin1]

For Excel, have you checked
Tools
Options
General
At startup, open all files in
to be sure that it is blank (or at least something you expect)? Unfortunately Publisher doesn't have an equivalent option.

 

[theguru97321]

Linney : Same file size.

Crobin1 : I have checked here, nothing. Remember, it does work when running from the Start/Run (Excel).

At this point, having a blank document on the desktop, or start menu has been the best solution. Also the 'Create new Office Document' works fine. Just odd..If I do ever figure it out, I'll post it.

 

[theguru97321]

Just thought I'd add, I installed Adobe Acrobat 6.0 trial this afternoon, and it does the same thing. So it has to be a registry, or a dll issue I'm thinking.

 

[linney]

Sometimes changing the wording of the address in the open command (whether it is in the Registry, Properties Shortcut or in File Types) from English to DOS name convention or vice versa has had some success.

 

[bcastner]

Try a repair of your file associations:

Start, Run, regsrvr32 /i shell32.dll

Then download:

http://www.dougknox.com/xp/fileassoc/linkfile_fix.zip

http://www.dougknox.com/xp/fileassoc/xp_exe_fix.zip

http://www.dougknox.com/xp/tips/xp_easy_file.htm

 

[theguru97321]

Booyah!!! I fixed it, I fixed it!!

I grabbed a PC with XP SP2, and Office 2003, working fine..

Exported the hkcr\exefile registry settings, and imported them onto one of the afflicted systems, and BAM works perfect.

Here is the settings that work.
Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\exefile]
@="Application"
"EditFlags"=hex:38,07,00,00
"TileInfo"="prop:FileDescription;Company;FileVersion"
"InfoTip"="prop:FileDescription;Company;FileVersion;Create;Size"

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\exefile\DefaultIcon]
@="%1"

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\exefile\shell]

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\exefile\shell\Enable/Disable Digital Signature Icons]

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\exefile\shell\Enable/Disable Digital Signature Icons\command]
@="acsignopt.exe"

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\exefile\shell\open]
"EditFlags"=hex:00,00,00,00

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\exefile\shell\open\command]
@="\"%1\" %*"

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\exefile\shell\runas]

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\exefile\shell\runas\command]
@="\"%1\" %*"

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\exefile\shellex]

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\exefile\shellex\DropHandler]
@="{86C86720-42A0-1069-A2E8-08002B30309D}"

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\exefile\shellex\PropertySheetHandlers]

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\exefile\shellex\PropertySheetHandlers\Digital Signatures]
@="{22391867-2469-4DEC-8091-901A5AA1EF12}"

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\exefile\shellex\PropertySheetHandlers\PifProps]
@="{86F19A00-42A0-1069-A2E9-08002B30309D}"

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\exefile\shellex\PropertySheetHandlers\ShimLayer Property Page]
@="{513D916F-2A8E-4F51-AEAB-0CBC76FB1AF8}"

Just copy all that to a file ending in .REG, run it and you're set.