Sometimes one of these works:

Tools|Options|General|Ignore other applications (uncheck it)

--- or ---

Close Excel and
Windows Start Button|Run
excel /unregserver
then
Windows Start Button|Run
excel /regserver

The /unregserver & /regserver stuff resets the windows registry to excel's
factory defaults.

terrycampbell@earthlink.net wrote:
>
> I have an end-user reporting the above issue. He is running Office
> 2000 Professional SP3 on Windows XP. I have suggested that he attempt
> a Repair of Office - did not fix. I suggested a Removal and
> Reinstallation of Office & Service Packs - did not fix. Any ideas
> would be appreciated.
> Thanks, Terry C
>
> His issue as presented to me is below....
>
> I can not directly open Excel spreadsheet on network (N drive or
> local C: drive using Explore from the Start menu.
> I also can not directly open a spreadsheet if it is an email
> attachment, I must save it to local drive first, then open it from
> within Excel.
>
> I can open the spreadsheet from any drive if I open it from within
> Excel (File/Open/etc).
>
> The window that displays when the spreadsheet will not open is just
> blank and remains that way.
>
> Then I get a little pop-up that says : The system cannot find the file
> specified.

--

Dave Peterson