Sometimes one of these works when you're having trouble with double clicking on
the file in windows explorer:

Tools|Options|General|Ignore other applications (uncheck it)
(xl2003 menus)

--- or ---

Close Excel and
Windows Start Button|Run
excel /unregserver
then
Windows Start Button|Run
excel /regserver

The /unregserver & /regserver stuff resets some of the windows registry to
excel's factory defaults.

paulmitchell507 wrote:

If I attempt to open a .xls with Excel 2003 via Windows Explorer,
Excel opens, but the sheet is never displayed, I receive a windows
error message stating the correct file lactation, but that the
specific file can not be found.

If I then repeat the same process, double click the .xls in Windows
Explorer, Excel will open the file. If I have already opened Excel I
can use the fileopen menu to select any .xls and it will open.

I suspect the problem may be with windows explorer, but users of Excel
may have experienced this problem.
Vista SP1 and Microsoft Office 2003.

--

Dave Peterson