CreateObject("Excel.Application") -> Access denied

[Luca]

Until now the simple code below worked properly:

Dim xlApp as Object 'or Excel.Application
Set xlApp = CreateObject("Excel.Application")

Since few days the debugger pauses at this line with error 70 ('Access
denied').

The code properly works for Access.Application, Word, Outlook, but not for
Excel.
Another phaenomenon is, that selecting a Hyperlink in a Cell calls an
"Unknown error",
instead of the resepctive URL.

I'm working with Windows XP, Office XP, Norman, McAffee Firewall (all
up-to-date).

Thanx from Switzerland
LUCA