Slow Office file opening

[Ibe U]

I double click file it takes about 30 seconds to open, if I open it from file
menu, choose open and then select file from list it opens super fast.

This is NOT network releted problem

It doesn't matter is file on local computer or network.
It doesn't matter if network cable is unplugged or not.
It doesn't matter if NIC or TCP/IP is disabled or not
PDFs open without problems and any other non office files too.

Workstations are WindowsXP with servicepack 2

 

[Gyorgy Moldova [MVP]]

any virus scanners installed with realtime scanning enabled?

 

[Bob I]

If the problem is ONLY when you double-click on a file to open it. the
problem is likely due to DDE. It can be fixed by reinstalling, OR this
workaround.

Go to Control Panel, Folder Options, File Types, scroll down to and
select (DOC for Word files) or XLS (for Excel files), click Advanced,
select Open entry, click the edit Button.
Now uncheck "Use DDE" and then put your cursor in the Application box,
arrow all the way to the right and put in "%1" (include the quote
marks), IF there is /dde remove it. Then OK you way out. Things should
work quickly again.

 

[Ibe U]

Thanks Bob

You solved my problem, problem was 6 computers.

Do you have any idea why that is happened?

 

[Bob I]

Nope, nothing other than something in the DDE association gets
completely confused, and then Word or Excel spends a long time wiating
for something to time out.

 

[Papa_LF]

Guess I don't understand how this could be broken right out of the box. With
21 workstations to go back and modify - and 41 to modify as I install - it
doesn't make sense...??? But thanks for posting the fix...

 

[Bob I]

No idea what you mean "right out of the box". Are you saying the vendor
shipped the PC's to you that way? If so what "3rd party" software was
installed after Office by the vendor?

 

[Papa_LF]

Purchased Volume Licenses of 2007 Professional Plus (70 licenses to be exact)
to upgrade our office. Currently having the same problem with Access opening
existing databases - using a similar fix - File type recognition issue. I
have very little other software in our facility - Predominantly Microsoft XP
Pro (fully patched) on Dell machines, which I run quite lean. No active
directory as of yet - coming in February.

 

[Bob I]

Sorry, can't speak to the Office 2007 issues. Only played with 2003 and
earlier.

 

[Manuel Sousa]

Greetings,

Been searching on google and the forums for a way to reinstall DDE and
haven't found it. Is it needed for anything or is more of a legacy type of
thing?

Is there anyway i can disable DDE through a group policy or globaly on a
system without having to change one file extension at a time per machine?

Thanks for your help,
Manuel Sousa

 

[Bob I]

I don't know, you could prowl around in the registry in this location

HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\Word.Document.12\shell\New\command

 

[johngi]

Thank you soo much. This has been an ongoing issue for my workgroup since we
moved to new software. We "had" issue with only 1 application. When it was
running if we double clicked on an xls or doc the file would take forever to
open. Not anymore. Thanks Again!!!

 

[Bob I]

Glad it helped you out, Have a great day!

Thank you soo much. This has been an ongoing issue for my workgroup since we
moved to new software. We "had" issue with only 1 application. When it was
running if we double clicked on an xls or doc the file would take forever to
open. Not anymore. Thanks Again!!!

:

 

[Frank Parmelee]

Hi All,

I followed your insructions Ibe U and when I tried ot open a .DOC or .XLS
the application would open but not the document.

Any thoughts?

 

[Bernie ZZ]

Bob,
Thanks for the in-sight.
However, I have an similar problem that didn't go away after this fix.
I called DELL to get more memory (only they sell the memory that my machine
uses), and they asked what I was trying to accomplish with more memory. I
said I wanted Excel and Word to open faster. They took control of my machine
and changed some settings. Now instead of 5-10 seconds to open, it takes 3-4
minutes to open. I tried un-install and re-installing Office, but no change.
DELL suggests I re-install Windows. I don't want to do that, yet. I have
Windows XP Home Edition SP-3, and Office 2000 Pro. I thought I saw Dell
change a setting from 2000 to 200, but I don't know what it was. Any ideas?
Thanks, Bernie

 

[Bob I]

No idea, but you may want to complain to dell about the adverse effect
their fix did, and how to reverse it.

 

[Rich]

Frank, did you ever get a reply? I have the same problem with the application
opening but not the document.

Rich

 

[Rich]

I followed your insructions and when I tried ot open a .DOC or .XLS
the application would open but not the document.

Any thoughts?

 

[Bob I]

My reply was for a particular set of circumstances. Perhaps if you
started your own thread, describing the original problem you are/were
having, someone might have an answer.

 

[Bill]

I did what you stated, at the end of mine was n/bdde, I put the "%1" in and
removed everything to right after the n, problem still exists?