You receive a "File Not Found" error message when you open a file by double-clicking the file name (207574)


The information in this article applies to:

  • Microsoft Office Excel 2003
  • Microsoft Excel 2002
  • Microsoft Excel 2000
This article was previously published under Q207574
Important This article contains information about modifying the registry. Before you modify the registry, make sure to back it up and make sure that you understand how to restore the registry if a problem occurs. For information about how to back up, restore, and edit the registry, click the following article number to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

256986 Description of the Microsoft Windows Registry

SYMPTOMS

When you double-click a Microsoft Excel file type (.xls), Excel starts as expected, but then you may receive an error message that is similar to the following:
C:\filename.xls' could not be found. Check the spelling of the file name, and verify that the file location is correct. If you are trying to open the file from your list of most recently used files on the File menu, make sure that the file has not been renamed, moved, or deleted.
When you click OK on the error message, the message reappears. After you repeatedly click OK, the file opens.

CAUSE

This behavior can occur if the Open action entry for this file type ends in %1.

If the Open action of the file type is edited and the line is restored before you press OK, a %1 is added to the registry key.

If you intentionally add a %1 to the Open action entry for this file type, a %1 is added to the registry key. If you subsequently delete the %1 from the Open action entry, the registry key remains unchanged and must be manually edited.

Additionally, this issue can occur when you manually change the file association of .xls files, or in some circumstances, when you are running multiple versions of Excel on the same computer.

RESOLUTION

Warning If you use Registry Editor incorrectly, you may cause serious problems that may require you to reinstall your operating system. Microsoft cannot guarantee that you can solve problems that result from using Registry Editor incorrectly. Use Registry Editor at your own risk.
To resolve this issue, follow these steps:
  1. Click Start, and then click Run.
  2. In the Open box, type regedit, and then click OK.
  3. Open the following registry key:

    HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\Excel.Sheet.8\shell\Open\command

  4. In the right pane, click (Default).
  5. On the Edit menu, click Modify.
  6. Remove the %1 from the end of the Value data string so that the data string reads as follows:

    "C:\PROGRAM FILES\MICROSOFT OFFICE\OFFICE\EXCEL.EXE" /e (including the quotation marks)

  7. Click OK, and then close Registry Editor.

MORE INFORMATION

Note Because there are several versions of Microsoft Windows, the following steps may be different on your computer. If they are, see your product documentation to complete these steps.
To change the Open action of a file type, follow these steps:
  1. Start the Microsoft Windows Explorer.
  2. On the Tools menu, click Folder Options.
  3. Click the File Types tab.
  4. Click the file type that you want (that is, Microsoft Excel Worksheet) in the Registered file types list.
  5. Click Advanced.
  6. Under Actions, click Open, and then click Edit.
  7. Make the changes that you want, and then click OK.
Modification Type:MajorLast Reviewed:2/23/2005
Keywords:kbinfo kbRegistry kberrmsg kbopenfile kbprb KB207574
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