Here’s the fix for slowness opening Excel 2003 files over the network.
A customer recently complained that opening Excel 2003 files over the network drive was very slow and seemed to cause Excel to hang. If you took that same Excel file from the network drive and copied it to the local computer drive the slowness went away.
A search for this type of problem revealed a lot of different answers, however here’s the solution that worked for this customer:
- Remove the 4/07/2011 Excel security update KB2541025.
I tried other resolutions offered, however this was the one that resolved the slowness for me (other solutions are offered below). It seems Microsoft has introduced some security checks regarding remote code execution that breaks or severely slows down opening files over the network. No doubt an update will follow but it is not available as of this writing.
[Update: I had another XP computer that I also had to additionally uninstall the KB2502786 update]
How to remove this Excel Security Update:
To remove this update from within Microsoft Windows XP, go to Add/Remove Programs and click the checkbox at the top of the window to Show Updates. Now scroll down until you see the KB number shown above and uninstall it. I reboot the customer’s computer afterwards just to be sure there’s no residual information in the Windows Registry.
After removing this update Excel was again able to open files over the network.
Note: Be careful that this update does not get pulled again on the next Windows Update sequence.
Other things to try:
One of the comments below also suggests: http://support.microsoft.com/kb/2570623, option 4
- Microsoft Support
- Check your DDE
- Check the comments below.
- Thanks to Steve Harman over at Techarena for offering this fix!
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I just uninstalled the damn thing through Add/Remove Programs…
Nice post! Found it as the top Google hit & resolved my hanging Excel 2003 issue in minutes!
Thank you SO much for this! “Other things to try” option 4 did the trick perfectly!
Excellent – glad it helped! Thanks for the comment.
/Technicalguy
Just did option #4 on the Microsoft Support Site. I used the “Microsoft Fix It” option and it worked just great. Solved this headache with little work on my part, except researching it like a mad man. THANKS TO ALL FOR YOUR COMMENTS.
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/2570623
apply the Method 4 fix it works like a charm
Thanks Cody, I’ll add it above!
I run in this problem some month ago and solve it with removal of KB2541025, I expected that Microsoft solve it but after changing our WSUS server today I run in the same problem again! in my experience it affected only excel 2003 and not 2007, folders are shared within 2003 active directory
This worked for me as well. Thanks for finding the solution!
Also be aware of the Office File Validation patch which also drags opening Excel files from a network location.
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/2501584
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/2570623
Thanks Dan, good point.
This worked for me.
http://blog.cjsystems.co.uk/2011/07/22/excel-2003-hangs-when-opening-file-from-the-network/
It worked for me.