Spreadsheets will not open by double clicking them

[Paulreg]

When double clicking on any .xls file, Excel opens with a grey screen only. ie the spreadsheet does not open. If the application is opened first, then File and Open will open the spreadsheet. I have re-installed Office XP to no avail.
It seems the user was deleting files from My Recent Documents in Windows XP when she ended up with several blank grey screen instances of Excel open. She then restarted the PC with some difficulty.
If I log into the PC I can open spreadsheets by double clicking on them. I renamed the users profile and found that spreadsheets would then open but after a few seconds delay. As soon as I copied any of her previous profile back (Not Local Settings or Application Data) then the original problem re-occured. Many thanks ... Paulreg

 

[SunshineX]

A possible solution to this may be:

Open any directory window.
To goto the Tools menu, Folder Options, Then click the File Types tab.
Look in the File Types list for the .xls extension and click Change, then click Advanced
Choose to change the Open function

the entries should look like this
Action: &Open
Application: "C:\Program Files\Microsoft Office\OFFICE11\EXCEL.EXE" /e

Check the use DDE box

DDE Message: [open("%1")]
Application: Excel
DDE App Not Runninng:
Topic: sytem

then click ok,ok,ok to get back out

 

[Paulreg]

Thank you SunshineX
I checked the File Association entries as you suggested and they seem to be correct.
I have now managed to find a solution on the MS web site. It relates to Office 97 but it seems to work for me. I unchecked the Ignore Other Applications box on the General Tab in Tools, Options.
Thanks again
Paulreg