Microsoft KB Archive/296135

Knowledge Base

OFF97: Problems Opening Excel Workbook, Word Document in Windows Explorer

Article ID: 296135

Article Last Modified on 1/31/2007

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APPLIES TO

• Microsoft Excel 97 Standard Edition
• Microsoft Word 97 Standard Edition
• Microsoft Windows NT 4.0

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This article was previously published under Q296135

WARNING:This information is preliminary and has not been confirmed or tested by Microsoft. Use only with discretion.

IMPORTANT: This article contains information about modifying the registry. Before you modify the registry, make sure to back it up and make sure that you understand how to restore the registry if a problem occurs. For information about how to back up, restore, and edit the registry, click the following article number to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

256986 Description of the Microsoft Windows Registry

SYMPTOMS

When you try to open a Microsoft Excel workbook in Windows Explorer, two copies of the same file are opened.

When you try to open a Microsoft Word document in Windows Explorer, you receive the following message:

Do you want to revert to the saved My File Name?

CAUSE

This behavior can occur when Excel or Word is not correctly registered on your computer and your computer is running Microsoft Windows NT Workstation 4.0.

RESOLUTION

To resolve this behavior, use one of the following methods, as appropriate.

Method 1: Excel

Re-register Excel with the default registry settings. To do this, follow these steps:

1. Quit all programs.
2. Click Start, and then click Run.
3. In the Run dialog box, type excel /unregserver, and then click OK.
4. Again, on the taskbar, click Start, and then click Run.
5. In the Run dialog box, type excel /regserver, and then click OK.
6. Click Start, point to Programs, and then click Microsoft Excel.
7. Quit Excel.
8. Start Windows Explorer, and then double-click to open any Excel workbook (.xls).

Method 2: Word

To correct this behavior in Word, follow these steps.

WARNING: If you use Registry Editor incorrectly, you may cause serious problems that may require you to reinstall your operating system. Microsoft cannot guarantee that you can solve problems that result from using Registry Editor incorrectly. Use Registry Editor at your own risk.

1. Quit all instances of Word, including WordMail.
2. Click Start, and then click Run.
3. In the Run dialog box, type regedit, and then click OK.
4. Find the following key:

   HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Office\8.0

   Right-click 8.0, and then press DELETE. Click Yes to confirm the deletion.
5. Quit Registry Editor, and then restart Windows.
6. Click Start, and then click Run.
7. In the Run dialog box, type the following command line

   "C:\Program Files\Microsoft Office\Office\WinWord.exe" /a

   and then click OK to start Word.
8. Quit Word.
9. Start Windows Explorer, and then double-click to open any Word document (.doc).

REFERENCES

For additional information, click the article numbers below to view the articles in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

168198 WD97: Troubleshooting Invalid Page Faults in Word 97

70014 WD: Word for Windows Startup Switches

121709 WD: How to Ignore User Settings When You Start Word

Keywords: kbprb KB296135

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