Word and Excel open slowly from Windows Explorer

[Dave F]

I am having a problem with office 2003.

If I have word or excel running and pick "file" "open" and pick a file there
is no problem at all - it opens immediately.

If I am in windows explorer and double click on it, it takes up to a minute
to open the file - this is the same for word or excel.
It is also the same from the desktop.
(Note: this does not include Power Point - It works fine)

This does not occur with any other file type - like .pdf's, .jpg's, etc they
all open immediately.

The problem appears to be with excel and word files only.
This is not files on a network - it is files on my computer.

This just started happening too.
I did not have this problem a couple of weeks ago.

Does anyone have a solution or answer to this?

Thanks

 

[siramic]

Dave, could it have been an update to you Antivirus that is now scanning
files on access a little differently, and slowing it down. About 3 years ago,
when I use to use Bitdefender AV, I turned off "scan accessed files", just to
speed things up a bit. I figured as long as I was doing my normal scans, I
could then safely open files I had created or had been previously scanned.
Might be worth a try just to see if it changes anything, and then set it back
if that didn't help.

Scott

 

[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 your way out. Things should
work quickly again.

 

[Dave F]

I did this and it worked partially.

Word opened quickly but the file did not open - just the program.
Is there anything else I can try?

Dave

 

[Dave F]

I dont understand why this has been going on for a year without a proper
resolution.
Why hasn't Microsoft fixed this yet?

My office was working fine until a couple of weeks ago when this started
happening to mine.

I have read all the info on dde, norton, etc.
This is not the problem.
If dde worked before you should not have to change it to get it to work now.

I have 3 computers - all running the same office and norton and anything else.
The problem is only on the one computer.
The dde is the same on all 3 - norton is the same on all 3
The only thing I dont know if it is the same is any Microsoft updates.

Alot of people are having this problem and it is with word and excel not
opening files when you double click on the file.

Microsoft - What is the problem here and what is the fix?
Its been going on long enough so there should be a fix.
You are the software experts - you write the programs, so why cant you fix it?

Yes I am a little upset because there is no clearcut fix for this after a
year!!!