Microsoft office 97 excel problem

[grizzlygus]

I am trying to alter the "Default file location" in Word 97.
the usual procedure is "Tools, Options, General, default file location"
But for some reason, when i click on "Tools, Options"
I keep getting a message "Excel.exe has generated errors and will be closed by windows" I have uninstalled/re installed M/S office using 2 different cd's but i still get the same problem.

The operating system is windows 2000, service packs 3 have been installed.

Any clues ???

Thanks

 

[carrr]

Ok. I know this is going to sound odd, but it works in a lot of cases. Is there another machine that shares the default printer for this machine? If so, is it turned off? If it is, turn it on...does the problem persist?