HELP!!! Office XP Applications taking the slow boat... [Archive]

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Metullus

12th January 2006, 10:30 AM

I am at my wit's end (a short journey I concede) with this problem:

I am running MS Office 2002 apps on Win XP.

About two weeks ago all of my Office apps have started to have the same problem - when attempting to open a data file (doc, xls, whatever) located in a directory other than the default directory the program locks up.

This happens when I try to change directories in the FILE OPEN window.

This does not occur in other non-Office software.

I have googled & MS'd, but in vain.

I have uninstalled and reinstalled Office.

I have run Spyware Doctor & Norton.

I have used foul language. :mad:

I need help! Please...

webfusion

12th January 2006, 05:44 PM

It almost sounds like the System is getting bogged down trying to perform some kind of network search, and can't locate a network.

Metullus

12th January 2006, 05:51 PM

Ahhhh! It did start about the time I started up a new wireless network at my mom's house...

D'ya suppose the darn machine thinks it is at my house on my own network?

Thanks, wf, for the new avenue of research!

Oleron

13th January 2006, 01:44 AM

Mongrel

13th January 2006, 08:39 AM

Also sounds similar to an old problem with Office, the standard template would get corrupted and then screw everthing else up. It's been a while so I can't remember the exact file :( (I'm sure someone else will) but it was a .DOT file. It's not going to hurt to Search > All files and Folders > *.dot and delete them all. **If you've made any templates yourself then back them up to a floppy**

The ones that office need will be rebuilt on startup and if you find yourself missing any just slap the Office disc in and from the reinstall options choose "repair"

Metullus

13th January 2006, 08:43 AM

Cecil

14th January 2006, 03:53 PM

Are you always looking at the same directory in the file open window when it locks?

Does it always happen when you change directories away from the default? When you go up a level, down a level, or to another drive using the pull-down menu?

I tend to agree with webfusion, if it locks when it tries to read the contents of "My Computer". This could indicate your computer has a network drive mapped, but can't find it since the network no longer exists. Other possibilities could be virtual drives which no longer exist or problems with your floppy/cd drives.

If this is the case (it locks at My Computer), do you see any drives load? What's the last one to appear before it locks? What drive normally comes after that one?

Do you get the same problem when browsing to that directory using Windows Explorer?

Metullus

14th January 2006, 04:28 PM

Are you always looking at the same directory in the file open window when it locks?

Come to think of it, yes, the My Documents directory.

Does it always happen when you change directories away from the default? When you go up a level, down a level, or to another drive using the pull-down menu?

Yes, always when in MS Word, Excel, or when attaching a file in Outlook. Until you mentioned it I had not tried going up a level - seems to work OK. It crashes when I click on the down-arrow-box next to the window that shows the current directory, that is to say when I go down a level. Have not tried it trying to change drives. I will try that.

I tend to agree with webfusion, if it locks when it tries to read the contents of "My Computer". This could indicate your computer has a network drive mapped, but can't find it since the network no longer exists. Other possibilities could be virtual drives which no longer exist or problems with your floppy/cd drives.

Yeah, after webfusion made that suggestion I checked that but I am not certain what to look for. Query - would the same thing happen if the PC is looking for a network printer that is not present?

If this is the case (it locks at My Computer), do you see any drives load? What's the last one to appear before it locks? What drive normally comes after that one?
No, I see no other drives loading.

Do you get the same problem when browsing to that directory using Windows Explorer?
No, the problem does not occur in Windows Explorer.

I will play with it to see what happens when I go up a level before trying to go down one.

I did check out what Mongrel suggested. It is not, unfortunately, a problem with a .DOT file.

This problem is driving me to drink... more than usual...

Metullus

14th January 2006, 04:30 PM

Norton is set to automatically scan office docs on open for macro viruses. Try switching it off for a while - does performance improve?

Otherwise, try this (http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;814112&Product=offxp#appliesto).
Thanks for the post and link.

I tried disabling Norton but no improvement.

I tried the links you provided, unfortunately I could find nothing that applies.

I am going out for more tequilla.

Cecil

14th January 2006, 04:44 PM

I am going out for more tequilla. I think you've found the solution.

Metullus

14th January 2006, 05:05 PM

I think you've found the solution.
It, at least, is one I understand... :)

webfusion

14th January 2006, 09:34 PM

Metullus

14th January 2006, 11:19 PM

Open your "Options", click on the General tab, open the Web Options and "disable features not supported by (browser)"

I dunno, your computer is freezing while trying to map out the drives --

maybe it's some weird SQL failure, or something in the OBDC Data Source Administrator (32 bit) --

do what mongrel suggests and try to repair with the install disc, or actually do a re-installation.

Okay. I ran search and killed off the .DOT files. I then reinstalled Office. No luck.

In Word I opened "Options", clicked on the General tab, opened the Web Options and checked "disable features not supported by browser". No joy.

I could not find similar options in Outlook or Excel.

I really appreciate your help - I am becoming increasing frustrated.

PixyMisa

15th January 2006, 02:45 AM

Does it ever unlock itself? If you go away for five minutes, is it working again when you come back? Or does it stay that way until you kill it?

Metullus

15th January 2006, 10:24 AM

Does it ever unlock itself? If you go away for five minutes, is it working again when you come back? Or does it stay that way until you kill it?
Okay, PixyMisa, after I read your post I loaded Excel and tried to access a file. It locked up. I left it for about ten minutes and when I came back it was unlocked! After several experiments it appears to unlock itself after about 5 - 8 minutes and then behaves normally until I need to access another data file. Then it does the same thing.

Important clue?

Darat

15th January 2006, 10:52 AM

Okay, PixyMisa, after I read your post I loaded Excel and tried to access a file. It locked up. I left it for about ten minutes and when I came back it was unlocked! After several experiments it appears to unlock itself after about 5 - 8 minutes and then behaves normally until I need to access another data file. Then it does the same thing.

Important clue?

Check what autosave options you have set, could be it keeps trying to save a backup to a non-existent network drive?

Metullus

15th January 2006, 11:50 AM

Check what autosave options you have set, could be it keeps trying to save a backup to a non-existent network drive?
Thanks Darat. Checked - autosave goes to the C:/ drive.

Metullus

15th January 2006, 08:04 PM

Eureka! I have solved the problem.

It turns out to be caused by an invalid registry entry related to an automated update of AOL Instant Messenger. Deleting the registry entry solved the problem.

I discovered the solution when I installed NORTON SYSTEMWORKS 2005 to replace NORTON SYSTEMWORKS 2004. (I had uninstalled 2004 to see if it was the problem. It was not.) Windoctor 2004 missed the problem, Windoctor 2005 found it.

Thanks all of you for your help - I really appreciate it.