XP SP2 Excel 2003

System is set to use Classic folders.
When calling a folder from within a spreadsheet, the folder appears with an
explorer side bar. The folder is called via a hyperlink. Clicking the Folder
button on the side bar clears it and leaves a nice clean folder. Calling the
same folder or any folder produces the same result. Opening the folder on the
desktop results in a folder without the side bar, as required. It seems
impossible to change this action and excel continous to bring up the side bar
whatever settings one tries to apply. The application is for people to load
power point programs but without access to the explorer tree menu in the side
bar. Any ideas? Not very VBA conversant.