Files open real slow in Office XP

mjoc · 02-21-2005, 03:09 PM

I am having a problem opening office XP files. When I try to open any type of office document from the my documents folder or from windows explorer or anywhere without office being opened it takes forever to open the file. However, if I open the office program first then the document opens immediately. Does anyone know what would cause this?

sperrie · 02-28-2005, 08:55 AM

Hi Michael, I happened to see your question when I was doing a google search for the same problem. Mine now works fine. I found that it was opening files slowly because my norton antivirus was checking the file for viruses before it opened it. Just like you, it was only slow when I wasn't opening it from within the program (Word or Excel).
I opened the Norton program, clicked on "options", went to "anti-virus". Under "miscellaneous", I "unchecked" the "enable office plugins".
After I rebooted my system I can open the files in just a couple seconds now. Hope this helps.

**scottcamp** · 03-01-2005, 05:45 AM

it is always a good idea to keep your antivirus program checking these files thouigh...a couple seconds of wait time is worth it, not to get a virus or something that may have attached itself to these docs.

tech4ed · 03-27-2005, 08:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mjoc

I am having a problem opening office XP files. When I try to open any type of office document from the my documents folder or from windows explorer or anywhere without office being opened it takes forever to open the file. However, if I open the office program first then the document opens immediately. Does anyone know what would cause this?

My answer to your problem may be the same as mine but only if you have a home network setup. When you open Office 2003 and try to browse to a file, it takes a long time to respond.
I have a 3 computer home network systems as reduntant systems. From my main computer, I have the other two mapped for access. I normally keep the other two powered down until I need to do backups. Because they are not powered up, Office 2003 searches for the mapped drives. That is what causes the long delay.
I unmapped the other computer drives and Office 2003 reponded very quickly as it should.
If you don't have a netword setup, Office 2003, when browsing to save, there must be something it is try to connect to.
With this info, hope you can solve the problem.
I am a retired IT person.
Ed

ZET · 03-04-2008, 11:37 AM

I realize this is an old thread but this was number one on google search. i resolved my problems with slow opening of word and excel by shutting down kodak easyshare software. That solved my problem 100%

mgoheen · 04-01-2008, 06:42 AM

Old thread -- but perhaps a new problem? I have a user here that JUST encountered this problem starting this week. Opening Word and Excel files from Windows Explorer became very slow, as much as thirty seconds. I did the "standard" things (disabled anti-virus, removed ALL shared network drives and links, removed sites from My Network Places) -- but nothing resolved the problem. There are posts showing a way to resolve the issue by changing the way .doc and .xls files are opened (removing the use of DDE and instead having Windows Explorer open the files directly using Word or Excel) -- but that is really just a band aid over the real problem.

I found another post about someone finding that some OTHER program caused the slowdown for them (unfortunately, I don't remember what that program was) -- but that gave me the clue I needed. I've had multiple problems with Kodak Easyshare over the years, so I tried simply killing the Easyshare process (the one that hangs out in the background to make your life miserable) -- the problem immediately went away.

I uninstalled Easyshare and everything now works fine.

I HATE that software!

I don't know what changed over the last week to cause the problem. We have another almost identical computer with Easyshare installed where we do NOT see the problem. Perhaps it's due to some auto-update the occurred on the one machine over the weekend.

dr_insanity · 04-14-2008, 07:57 AM

Another solution I have found (having tried disabling the antivirus, repairing the installation and reinstalling the installation) is to turn off DDE when opening the files.

In windows explorer, go to tools > folder options
under the file types tab, select .xls and hit advanced
select OPEN and hit edit

at the end of the string under application to perform action, add "%1" including quotemarks, and uncheck the use DDE box.

Click okay on all of the open dialog boxes, and then repeat for .doc and .ppt

delphilenny · 04-19-2008, 11:45 AM

thank you!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
i got the same problem with exel and word driving me crazy/ installinf and unistalling all the software. And ALL WAS KODAK SHARE!!!!!!!!!!!
thanks again

jlpeifer · 06-12-2008, 09:19 AM

BINGO!!! Thank you Dr_Insanity. The system experiencing this problem did not have the Kodak Easyshare software installed on it. After following instructions to disable DDE on XLS and DOC files, these began opening *very* quickly whenever I double-clicked a DOC/XLS document directly from Windows Explorer.

Interesting side note... As mentioned, after I disabled DDE I opened DOC and XLS files successfully. When I went back into the "Edit File Type --> Open --> Edit" I noticed that the check reappeared in the checkbox next to "Use DDE". So the system apparently added that check again.

Regardless, the documents continued opening quickly, as expected.

Thanks Again!

02-21-2005, 03:09 PM	#1 (permalink)
mjoc Registered User Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Ramona CA Posts: 26 OS: Win 2K	Files open real slow in Office XP I am having a problem opening office XP files. When I try to open any type of office document from the my documents folder or from windows explorer or anywhere without office being opened it takes forever to open the file. However, if I open the office program first then the document opens immediately. Does anyone know what would cause this? __________________ Michael O'C Ramona, CA

02-28-2005, 08:55 AM	#2 (permalink)
sperrie Registered User Join Date: Feb 2005 Posts: 1 OS: xp-home	Try this Hi Michael, I happened to see your question when I was doing a google search for the same problem. Mine now works fine. I found that it was opening files slowly because my norton antivirus was checking the file for viruses before it opened it. Just like you, it was only slow when I wasn't opening it from within the program (Word or Excel). I opened the Norton program, clicked on "options", went to "anti-virus". Under "miscellaneous", I "unchecked" the "enable office plugins". After I rebooted my system I can open the files in just a couple seconds now. Hope this helps.

03-01-2005, 05:45 AM	#3 (permalink)
scottcamp Master Chump Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: South Carolina Posts: 484 OS: XP Home	it is always a good idea to keep your antivirus program checking these files thouigh...a couple seconds of wait time is worth it, not to get a virus or something that may have attached itself to these docs. __________________ "Four freedoms: The first is freedom of speech and expression - everywhere in the world. The second is freedom of everyone to worship God in his own way, everywhere in the world. The third is freedom from want . . . everywhere in the world. The fourth is freedom from fear . . . anywhere in the world." --Franklin D. Roosevelt U.S. President

03-04-2008, 11:37 AM	#5 (permalink)
ZET Registered User Join Date: Mar 2008 Posts: 1 OS: XP SP2	Re: Files open real slow in Office XP I realize this is an old thread but this was number one on google search. i resolved my problems with slow opening of word and excel by shutting down kodak easyshare software. That solved my problem 100%

04-01-2008, 06:42 AM	#6 (permalink)
mgoheen Registered User Join Date: Apr 2008 Posts: 1 OS: XP	Re: Files open real slow in Office XP Old thread -- but perhaps a new problem? I have a user here that JUST encountered this problem starting this week. Opening Word and Excel files from Windows Explorer became very slow, as much as thirty seconds. I did the "standard" things (disabled anti-virus, removed ALL shared network drives and links, removed sites from My Network Places) -- but nothing resolved the problem. There are posts showing a way to resolve the issue by changing the way .doc and .xls files are opened (removing the use of DDE and instead having Windows Explorer open the files directly using Word or Excel) -- but that is really just a band aid over the real problem. I found another post about someone finding that some OTHER program caused the slowdown for them (unfortunately, I don't remember what that program was) -- but that gave me the clue I needed. I've had multiple problems with Kodak Easyshare over the years, so I tried simply killing the Easyshare process (the one that hangs out in the background to make your life miserable) -- the problem immediately went away. I uninstalled Easyshare and everything now works fine. I HATE that software! I don't know what changed over the last week to cause the problem. We have another almost identical computer with Easyshare installed where we do NOT see the problem. Perhaps it's due to some auto-update the occurred on the one machine over the weekend.

04-14-2008, 07:57 AM	#7 (permalink)
dr_insanity Registered User Join Date: Aug 2005 Posts: 35 OS: XPPro-sp2, 2000-sp4, 2003SBS, Vista Business	Re: Files open real slow in Office XP Another solution I have found (having tried disabling the antivirus, repairing the installation and reinstalling the installation) is to turn off DDE when opening the files. In windows explorer, go to tools > folder options under the file types tab, select .xls and hit advanced select OPEN and hit edit at the end of the string under application to perform action, add "%1" including quotemarks, and uncheck the use DDE box. Click okay on all of the open dialog boxes, and then repeat for .doc and .ppt

04-19-2008, 11:45 AM	#8 (permalink)
delphilenny Registered User Join Date: Apr 2008 Posts: 1 OS: xp	Re: Files open real slow in Office XP thank you!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! i got the same problem with exel and word driving me crazy/ installinf and unistalling all the software. And ALL WAS KODAK SHARE!!!!!!!!!!! thanks again

06-12-2008, 09:19 AM	#9 (permalink)
jlpeifer Registered User Join Date: Jun 2008 Posts: 1 OS: XP Pro	Re: Files open real slow in Office XP BINGO!!! Thank you Dr_Insanity. The system experiencing this problem did not have the Kodak Easyshare software installed on it. After following instructions to disable DDE on XLS and DOC files, these began opening very quickly whenever I double-clicked a DOC/XLS document directly from Windows Explorer. Interesting side note... As mentioned, after I disabled DDE I opened DOC and XLS files successfully. When I went back into the "Edit File Type --> Open --> Edit" I noticed that the check reappeared in the checkbox next to "Use DDE". So the system apparently added that check again. Regardless, the documents continued opening quickly, as expected. Thanks Again!