When I start up Excel (2003), no workbook is opening. I have
identified that this has something to do with a hidden workbook that I
have created and placed in Excel's XLSTART folder. This file,
XXStartup.xls is hidden and acts like PERSONAL.XLS. It is used to
deploy custom toolbars to users without overwriting their own
PERSONAL.XLS.

I have placed XXStartup.xls in:

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

I prefer this location as it means the macros execute seamlessly
without having to redirect the macro paths if I used:

C:\Documents and Settings\{userID}\Application Data\Microsoft\Excel
\XLSTART

The Excel11.xlb file is placed in the user's profile path (in the
Excel folder, one up from XLSTART in the path above).

Regardless of which XLSTART folder I put XXStartup.xls in (and I have
tried both), no workbook opens automatically on startup. As soon as I
remove the file from XLSTART, Excel's behaviour returns to normal. I
have read other posts suggesting removing the " /e" switch from the
command line for Excel, but this has had no effect.

Any suggestions are appreciated.

Paul Martin
Melbourne, Australia