If it really isn't opening (after you've checked for a hidden workbook), try
Help|About Microsoft Excel|and click on disabled items.

xl2002 added a "quarantine" function for workbooks that it thinks are damaged.
And it's easy to just click on "yes" to the "do you want the offending workbook
disabled".

But if excel was really correct that your workbook is damaged, you may have to
use your backup copy.

Shatin wrote:

My understanding is that the personal.xls is supposed to open at start up
automatically. Don't know why but my doesn't. It's placed in this directory:

c:\Program Files\Microsoft Office\OFFICE11\XLSTART\

So I choose "Tools|Option|General|At start up, open all files in: " and put
the above path into the textbox. Still the same result, personal.xls just
won't be opened at start up.

I wonder what the problem is. Have I changed some setting inadvertently?

--

Dave Peterson