Excel 2007 on Vista when double clicking on file of type xls, or xlsx does not open file - reports error - "Windows cannot find file...."

Question

Hi,

I am running Excel 2007 on Microsoft Vista SP2. If I am in Windows exploer or outlook and I try to open a file of tpye xls, or xlsx by double clicking on it I get an error "Windows cannot find file....Make sure you typed the file name correctly, and then try again".

I can open the file if I start excel first, and then open the file using the Open file option.

This feature did used to work!

Any suggestions appreciated.

Thanks
Andrew 

Answer 1

Check the file association in Explorer and make sure that files of type .xls and .xlsx are set to be opened by Excel. This might solve the problem.

Answer 2

Hi,

Since a few days, I have exactly the same problem on my laptop - running Excel 2007 with Microsoft Vista SP 1. I can open files of type .doc or .docx with WORD and .ppt or pptx with Powerpoint, but I cannot open .xls and .xlsx files when double-clicking on the files using the Explorer.

I verified the file associations in Explorer. xls and xlsx files are set to be opened with Excel.

Any further idieas?

Thanks,
Roland

Answer 3

Hi, I have the same problem on a computer running Microsoft Vista and Excel 2007. Word and Powerpoint work fine, but not Excel.
The problem started after  I installed last week Windows updates.
Might be a security issue?

Any ideas?
Thanks, ccny


For me http://support.microsoft.com/kb/211494  solved the problem.
Good luck