Opening Word/Excel document opens second blank document as well

Question

When I open a folder (My Documents) and then double-click on a Word document (Word is not currently open), Word will open and load the document, however, a second blank document will also be opened. I then have to keep closing the black documents.

The same problem happens with Excel. When I double-click a spreadsheet, Excel will open the spreadsheet along with a second blank spreadsheet.

I recently migrated my files from an old XP machines to a new Windows 7 machine (both had Office 2007), however, I can't imagine that would pose a problem. This doesn't happen every time, although it's most of the time. Whether or not it happens seems to be document independent.

It'd be nice to fix this, so any assistance would be greatly appreciated.

Answer 1

Hi,

Click on Start > Search programs and files type the following:

winword /r

(This will reset the default setting for Word 2007)

Next Click on Start > Search programs and files type the following:

excel /o

(This will reset the default setting for Excel 2007)

If the issue still persists try the following steps:

1.     Click on Start > Computer and then click on the Organize menu on the top left hand corner to select Folder and Search Options

2.      On the View tab, select the option Show hidden file, folders and drivesthen on OK

3.     Go to the following locations on the computer then delete all the contents for the specified folders:

(Note: ensure to take a back-up of these folders before deleting its contents)

C:\Program Files\Microsoft Office\Office12\STARTUP

(For a 64 bit machine, the location will be C:\Program Files(x86)\Microsoft Office\Office12\STARTUP)

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C:\Program Files\Microsoft Office\Office12\XLSTART

(For a 64 bit machine, the location will be C:\Program Files(x86)\Microsoft Office\Office12\ XLSTART)

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C:\Users\username\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Word\STARTUP

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C:\Users\username\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Excel\XLSTART

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(Note: the username gets replaced with your computer account username)

If the issue gets resolved, follow Step 1 then for Step 2 select Don’t show hidden files and folders, or drives.

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Trinayan Baruah, Microsoft Answers Support Engineer.

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Answer 2

None of this worked at all!!!

Microsoft can you please help!!!

I am using Microsoft XP OS and Office 2007.

The blank document occurs for me when I am using mailmerge through outlook.

URGENT RESPONSE NEEDED!!!

Answer 3

I have solved this problem in my Office 365 Excel by going to File/Options/General/Start Up Options and checking "Show the Start Screen when application starts." I then do not get a superfluous blank work sheet opening in a second excel instance. You do get a start screen of templates you don't want, but that's slightly less irritating than the duplicate second worksheet.

Answer 4

So I've had this issue as well but was able to figure out in my environment and compare 2 computers: 1 that had the issue and 1 that did not.

I found the difference between the PCs was that Word, Excel etc had some add-ins from a third party application that I had installed. I disabled the add-in and bingo issue resolved. To check your add-ins in Word 2007 do the following:

• click on the "Office Button" (top left)
• word options
• add-ins
• manage com add-ins
• go

If you see anything there you may want to disable it even if temporarily to see if this resolves the issues. Note you need to be logged on as administrator to disable/enable the add-ins.

Hope this helps!

Jason Hattrick

Answer 5

I have also had this problem, but I've now realised it's only since I've had the preview open.

If you click on Hide the Preview pane it seems to stop it happening.