Error: "Opening This Excel 2003 File may be Dangerous." ??

[monirg]

Hello;

1) I've been using this XL 2003 (complex) Read-Only file for years with no problem whatsoever.
I developed it about 4 yrs ago, and I believe last time I opened it was about a month or two ago on the same computer with the same Excel 2003.
There have been no hardware or software changes.

2) I tried earlier today to open the file.
After the usual Security Warning "Enable Macros", the following message was displayed:

" Microsoft Excel
Office File Validation detected a problem while trying to open the file.
Opening it may be dangerous."

with two options: "Open" and "Cancel".
Needless to say, I froze for a moment and quickly chose "Cancel".
I repeated the process few times with the same result.

Can someone please help or advise on what to do ??

Thank you kindly.

 

[monirg]

Rory;

Have you tried simply opening the file?

Yes, as described in Item 2 of my OP.

Will try today to manually remove the OFV by following the MS 12-step procedure at:
Let me fix it myself
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/2570623

PS. The /Policies folder included in the path in Step 3) of the above procedure appears to be incorrect and shouldn't be there!

Regards.

 

[RoryA]

No, that said that you cancelled opening the file.

 

[monirg]

Rory;

You're absolutely correct ... Sorry I misinterpreted your question.

Had the Excel "dangerous" message been a bit softer, I would've gone ahead; ignored the message and opened the file.

The difficulty is that I'm not sure what would happen if I ignore the message.
Is it "dangerous" to the XL file I'm trying to open, to the computer, to the installed XL 2003, or dangerous to me personally!!

Based on your expertise, what is the worst-case scenario if I open the file ??

Regards.

 

[monirg]

Hello;

There appears to be two (2) possible solutions to this irritating problem.
Here's a summary.

1) First Solution:
a. created a Restore Point:

Start::All Programs::Accessories::System Tools::System Restore

just in case the remedy creates more havoc in the system!
b. opened the problem & trusted XL 2003 file, and ignored the "dangerous" message
c. clicked the option Open
d. the dangerous message reappeared
e. ignored the message for the second time, and clicked Open again
f. file opened nicely with no problem
g. repeated b to f above to re-open the file
(By the way, the computer never exploded or imploded during the process!)

2) Second Solution:
h. created a Restore Point
i. removed the OFV add-in:

Control Panel::Add or Remove Programs::Microsoft Office File Validation Add-In

(The version of the OFV: 14.0.5130.5003)
j. opened the problem file. No problem. No "dangerous" message!
k. it is likely that the OFV will be automatically re-installed at some point in the foreseeable future.
Should decline if asked, or remove it if was re-installed.

3) As I mentioned earlier, I don't quite understand MS logic in providing "additional" Office protection (via OFV) while corrupting XL 2003 Application in the process.
I keep asking myself: Is MS aware of how much inconvenience and disruption they're causing the users by providing what appears to be "unnecessary" and "untested" protection ??

Thank you all for your help in resolving the issue.

Regards.

 

[monirg]

Hello;

1) For the sake of completeness, I inadvertently forgot to mention a critical point in my concluding remarks (reply # 14).
And that's regarding the MS Article:
"Excel 2003 Office File Validation (OFV) ... "
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/2570623

The above Article is either outdated or inapplicable, and here is the proof:

2) I tried the section:
"Fix it for me"
(Method 3 & Method 4)
Both methods produced the message:

There is a problem with Windows Installer package.
A script required for this install to complete could not be run.
Contact your support personnel or package vendor."

3) I also tried the MS 12-step procedure
"Let me fix it myself"
(in the above referenced MS Article).
First: MS assumes in step 3) of their procedure that the path to \Office\11\ includes \Policies
where in fact it doesn't, and the path is:
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Office\11.0\
Second: step 5) suggests to create a New Key Excel
but \Excel is already there under \11.0
Third: step 7) of the MS procedure suggests to create a New Key Security
where in fact there's already \Security under Excel

Regards.

 

[RoryA]

To the best of my knowledge, you should have an HKCU\Software\Policies hive in your registry.

 

[monirg]

Rory;

you should have an HKCU\Software\Policies hive in your registry.

If you're referring to "Item 3) First" of my reply # 15, then please let me clarify.

Step 3 of the MS 12-step procedure in:
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/2570623
reads:

3. Locate and then click to select the following registry key:
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Office\11.0\

but it didn't exist on my 4 computers (now I'd removed the OFV).

Regards.

 

[RoryA]

If you don't have the HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Office\11.0\ hive then the instructions do not apply (perhaps because you had already removed the OFV). It's not a question of locating some other Office hive in the registry. (You should have a Policies hive under Software)

 

[monirg]

Hi Rory;

Sorry, my writing was not clear enough.

I had the OFV and tried to remove it by following the MS 12-step procedure "Let me fix it myself" after the MS "Fix it for me" had failed.
The MS instructions require to click and select:

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Office\11.0\

which simply didn't exist on any of my 4 computers.

Hence my conclusion:
"The MS Article appears to be either outdated or inapplicable"
followed by my suggested resolution (reply # 14), which works fine for me.

Regards.