hang from too many auditing trace lines

[dave]

[also posting here because the crashes section doesn't get
loooked at much]

I have a number of spreadsheets open and I'm currently
hung because I hit the auditing button which finds
everyone that uses that cell for a cell which is used by
thousands of cells. Its trying to draw all the blue lines
to every cell. I've experienced this before on a smaller
scale - and it usually takes awhile but eventually
finishes and I can continue to work. In this case its
taking longer than my timeout (and my productivity) will
allow.

Is there a way to stop the process of mapping the lines or
any other solution which will avoid ending task and losing
data?

thanks in advance,
Dave

PS Im using excel 2002
..