IT experts: anyone familiar with slow DDE problems?

[soupcxan]

Lately Excel and MS word have started opening files slowly on my PC. Even the smallest Excel file with only one cell of data takes 10-15 seconds to open.* It only started doing this in the last few weeks. I think that it is a problem with DDE, because if I open excel with a blank sheet, or use the File...Open command to open a file, they open instantly. But if I open a file by double-clicking on it in Windows Explorer, that's when I have the lag problem. Does anyone know how to interpret this output from a DDESpy type program and troubleshoot what is slowing it down? I don't know if it is normal to have so many DDE calls just to open a file...is there any way to fix this? It's happening on my work computer so can't just format and reinstall (I've asked the helpdesk but this problem is beyond their capabilities).

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5870391 WM_DDE_INITIATE (S) to hTask=564 hWnd=C024E->300EA Excel|System
5870391 WM_DDE_INITIATE (S) to hTask=564 hWnd=C024E->20570 Excel|System
5870401 WM_DDE_INITIATE (S) to hTask=564 hWnd=C024E->1058E Excel|System
5870401 WM_DDE_INITIATE (S) to hTask=564 hWnd=C024E->2057C Excel|System
5870401 WM_DDE_INITIATE (S) to hTask=564 hWnd=C024E->2054A Excel|System
5870401 WM_DDE_INITIATE (S) to hTask=564 hWnd=C024E->E03DA Excel|System
5870411 WM_DDE_INITIATE (S) to hTask=564 hWnd=C024E->B042E Excel|System
5870411 WM_DDE_INITIATE (S) to hTask=564 hWnd=C024E->904AA Excel|System
5870411 WM_DDE_INITIATE (S) to hTask=564 hWnd=C024E->90408 Excel|System
5870411 WM_DDE_INITIATE (S) to hTask=564 hWnd=C024E->8040A Excel|System
5870411 WM_DDE_INITIATE (S) to hTask=564 hWnd=C024E->D0344 Excel|System
5870411 WM_DDE_INITIATE (S) to hTask=564 hWnd=C024E->20538 Excel|System
5870421 WM_DDE_INITIATE (S) to hTask=564 hWnd=C024E->6052E Excel|System
5870421 WM_DDE_INITIATE (S) to hTask=564 hWnd=C024E->49048E Excel|System
5870421 WM_DDE_INITIATE (S) to hTask=564 hWnd=C024E->40532 Excel|System
5870421 WM_DDE_INITIATE (S) to hTask=564 hWnd=C024E->10518 Excel|System
5870421 WM_DDE_INITIATE (S) to hTask=564 hWnd=C024E->1050E Excel|System
5870431 WM_DDE_INITIATE (S) to hTask=564 hWnd=C024E->104E0 Excel|System
5870431 WM_DDE_INITIATE (S) to hTask=564 hWnd=C024E->B042A Excel|System
5870431 WM_DDE_INITIATE (S) to hTask=564 hWnd=C024E->904CA Excel|System
5870431 WM_DDE_INITIATE (S) to hTask=564 hWnd=C024E->104FE Excel|System
5870431 WM_DDE_INITIATE (S) to hTask=564 hWnd=C024E->104F2 Excel|System
5870441 WM_DDE_INITIATE (S) to hTask=564 hWnd=C024E->104D4 Excel|System
5870441 WM_DDE_INITIATE (S) to hTask=564 hWnd=C024E->404C8 Excel|System
5870441 WM_DDE_INITIATE (S) to hTask=564 hWnd=C024E->90412 Excel|System
5870441 WM_DDE_INITIATE (S) to hTask=564 hWnd=C024E->C040E Excel|System
5870441 WM_DDE_INITIATE (S) to hTask=564 hWnd=C024E->C047E Excel|System
5870451 WM_DDE_INITIATE (S) to hTask=564 hWnd=C024E->90406 Excel|System
5870451 WM_DDE_INITIATE (S) to hTask=564 hWnd=C024E->A0454 Excel|System
5870451 WM_DDE_INITIATE (S) to hTask=564 hWnd=C024E->90440 Excel|System
5870451 WM_DDE_INITIATE (S) to hTask=564 hWnd=C024E->C0346 Excel|System
5870451 WM_DDE_INITIATE (S) to hTask=564 hWnd=C024E->E03D6 Excel|System
5870451 WM_DDE_INITIATE (S) to hTask=564 hWnd=C024E->C038E Excel|System
5870461 WM_DDE_INITIATE (S) to hTask=564 hWnd=C024E->1703E0 Excel|System
5870461 WM_DDE_INITIATE (S) to hTask=564 hWnd=C024E->F034C Excel|System
5870461 WM_DDE_INITIATE (S) to hTask=564 hWnd=C024E->1903DE Excel|System
5870461 WM_DDE_INITIATE (S) to hTask=564 hWnd=C024E->1201CC Excel|System
5870461 WM_DDE_INITIATE (S) to hTask=564 hWnd=C024E->5041C Excel|System
5870471 WM_DDE_INITIATE (S) to hTask=564 hWnd=C024E->40372 Excel|System
5870471 WM_DDE_INITIATE (S) to hTask=564 hWnd=C024E->30370 Excel|System
5870471 WM_DDE_INITIATE (S) to hTask=564 hWnd=C024E->30360 Excel|System
5870471 WM_DDE_INITIATE (S) to hTask=564 hWnd=C024E->8021A Excel|System
5870471 WM_DDE_INITIATE (S) to hTask=564 hWnd=C024E->C022A Excel|System
5870481 WM_DDE_INITIATE (S) to hTask=564 hWnd=C024E->B0228 Excel|System
5870481 WM_DDE_INITIATE (S) to hTask=564 hWnd=C024E->10320 Excel|System
5870481 WM_DDE_INITIATE (S) to hTask=564 hWnd=C024E->1015E Excel|System
5870481 WM_DDE_INITIATE (S) to hTask=564 hWnd=C024E->4038C Excel|System
5870491 WM_DDE_INITIATE (S) to hTask=564 hWnd=C024E->50394 Excel|System
5870491 WM_DDE_INITIATE (S) to hTask=564 hWnd=C024E->20264 Excel|System
5870501 WM_DDE_INITIATE (S) to hTask=564 hWnd=C024E->20266 Excel|System
5870501 WM_DDE_INITIATE (S) to hTask=564 hWnd=C024E->20268 Excel|System
5870501 WM_DDE_INITIATE (S) to hTask=564 hWnd=C024E->20292 Excel|System
5870501 WM_DDE_INITIATE (S) to hTask=564 hWnd=C024E->2026A Excel|System
5870501 WM_DDE_INITIATE (S) to hTask=564 hWnd=C024E->2026C Excel|System
5870511 WM_DDE_INITIATE (S) to hTask=564 hWnd=C024E->20270 Excel|System
5870511 WM_DDE_INITIATE (S) to hTask=564 hWnd=C024E->2026E Excel|System
5870511 WM_DDE_INITIATE (S) to hTask=564 hWnd=C024E->20272 Excel|System
5870511 WM_DDE_INITIATE (S) to hTask=564 hWnd=C024E->20276 Excel|System
5870511 WM_DDE_INITIATE (S) to hTask=564 hWnd=C024E->20278 Excel|System
5870511 WM_DDE_INITIATE (S) to hTask=564 hWnd=C024E->2027A Excel|System
5870521 WM_DDE_INITIATE (S) to hTask=564 hWnd=C024E->2027C Excel|System
5870521 WM_DDE_INITIATE (S) to hTask=564 hWnd=C024E->2027E Excel|System
5870521 WM_DDE_INITIATE (S) to hTask=564 hWnd=C024E->20280 Excel|System
5870521 WM_DDE_INITIATE (S) to hTask=564 hWnd=C024E->20282 Excel|System
5870521 WM_DDE_INITIATE (S) to hTask=564 hWnd=C024E->202A4 Excel|System
5870531 WM_DDE_INITIATE (S) to hTask=564 hWnd=C024E->40312 Excel|System
5870531 WM_DDE_INITIATE (S) to hTask=564 hWnd=C024E->40314 Excel|System
5870531 WM_DDE_INITIATE (S) to hTask=564 hWnd=C024E->202FE Excel|System
5870531 WM_DDE_INITIATE (S) to hTask=564 hWnd=C024E->102F4 Excel|System
5870531 WM_DDE_INITIATE (S) to hTask=564 hWnd=C024E->102F2 Excel|System
5870541 WM_DDE_INITIATE (S) to hTask=564 hWnd=C024E->102E8 Excel|System
5870541 WM_DDE_INITIATE (S) to hTask=564 hWnd=C024E->102DC Excel|System
5870541 WM_DDE_INITIATE (S) to hTask=564 hWnd=C024E->102CE Excel|System
5870541 WM_DDE_INITIATE (S) to hTask=564 hWnd=C024E->102C2 Excel|System
5870541 WM_DDE_INITIATE (S) to hTask=564 hWnd=C024E->102AE Excel|System
5870551 WM_DDE_INITIATE (S) to hTask=564 hWnd=C024E->102AA Excel|System
5870551 WM_DDE_INITIATE (S) to hTask=564 hWnd=C024E->101A2 Excel|System
5870551 WM_DDE_INITIATE (S) to hTask=564 hWnd=C024E->2016A Excel|System
5870551 WM_DDE_INITIATE (S) to hTask=564 hWnd=C024E->2016C Excel|System
5870551 WM_DDE_INITIATE (S) to hTask=564 hWnd=C024E->30162 Excel|System
5870551 WM_DDE_INITIATE (S) to hTask=564 hWnd=C024E->10164 Excel|System
5870561 WM_DDE_INITIATE (S) to hTask=564 hWnd=C024E->10158 Excel|System
5870561 WM_DDE_INITIATE (S) to hTask=564 hWnd=C024E->1015A Excel|System
5870561 WM_DDE_INITIATE (S) to hTask=564 hWnd=C024E->100FA Excel|System
5870561 WM_DDE_INITIATE (S) to hTask=564 hWnd=C024E->100F0 Excel|System
5870571 WM_DDE_INITIATE (S) to hTask=564 hWnd=C024E->100F2 Excel|System
5870571 WM_DDE_INITIATE (S) to hTask=564 hWnd=C024E->100C4 Excel|System
5870571 WM_DDE_INITIATE (S) to hTask=564 hWnd=C024E->100C6 Excel|System
5870571 WM_DDE_INITIATE (S) to hTask=564 hWnd=C024E->100A4 Excel|System
5870571 WM_DDE_INITIATE (S) to hTask=564 hWnd=C024E->100A2 Excel|System
5870581 WM_DDE_INITIATE (S) to hTask=564 hWnd=C024E->1009E Excel|System
5870581 WM_DDE_INITIATE (S) to hTask=564 hWnd=C024E->1009A Excel|System
5870591 WM_DDE_INITIATE (S) to hTask=564 hWnd=C024E->10092 Excel|System
5870591 WM_DDE_INITIATE (S) to hTask=564 hWnd=C024E->10094 Excel|System
5870591 WM_DDE_INITIATE (S) to hTask=564 hWnd=C024E->40064 Excel|System
5870591 WM_DDE_INITIATE (S) to hTask=564 hWnd=C024E->3006E Excel|System
5870601 WM_DDE_INITIATE (S) to hTask=564 hWnd=C024E->50074 Excel|System
5870601 WM_DDE_INITIATE (S) to hTask=564 hWnd=C024E->6006A Excel|System
5870601 WM_DDE_INITIATE (S) to hTask=564 hWnd=C024E->60062 Excel|System
5870601 WM_DDE_INITIATE (S) to hTask=564 hWnd=C024E->8007C Excel|System
5871302 WM_DDE_INITIATE (S) to hTask=564 hWnd=C024E->30066 Excel|System
5872514 WM_DDE_INITIATE (S) to hTask=564 hWnd=C024E->1004C Excel|System
5872514 WM_DDE_INITIATE (S) to hTask=564 hWnd=C024E->1004E Excel|System
5872514 WM_DDE_INITIATE (S) to hTask=564 hWnd=C024E->1003E Excel|System
5872514 WM_DDE_INITIATE (S) to hTask=564 hWnd=C024E->10040 Excel|System
5872514 WM_DDE_INITIATE (S) to hTask=564 hWnd=C024E->10036 Excel|System
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5872524 WM_DDE_INITIATE (S) to hTask=564 hWnd=C024E->1002A Excel|System
5872524 WM_DDE_INITIATE (S) to hTask=564 hWnd=C024E->10026 Excel|System
5872524 WM_DDE_INITIATE (S) to hTask=564 hWnd=C024E->10028 Excel|System
5872524 WM_DDE_INITIATE (S) to hTask=564 hWnd=C024E->20020 Excel|System
5872524 WM_DDE_INITIATE (S) to hTask=564 hWnd=C024E->10022 Excel|System
5872534 WM_DDE_INITIATE (S) to hTask=564 hWnd=C024E->10018 Excel|System
5872534 WM_DDE_INITIATE (S) to hTask=564 hWnd=C024E->20096 Excel|System
5872534 WM_DDE_INITIATE (S) to hTask=564 hWnd=C024E->10166 Excel|System
5872534 WM_DDE_INITIATE (S) to hTask=564 hWnd=C024E->1009C Excel|System
5872534 WM_DDE_INITIATE (S) to hTask=564 hWnd=C024E->100C0 Excel|System
5872544 WM_DDE_EXECUTE (P) to hTask=564 hWnd=C024E->901DA
TRUNCATED Commands: [
5872784 HSZ A4 "#164" created hTask=7F4
5872784 ERROR 4006 DMLERR_INVALIDPARAMETER in hTask=7F4
5872784 WM_DDE_ACK (P) to hTask=4A4 hWnd=901DA->C024E Status=8001 (Code=1 fBusy=0 fAck=1) Item=#164
5872784 WM_DDE_TERMINATE (P) to hTask=564 hWnd=C024E->901DA lParam=0
5872794 WM_DDE_TERMINATE (P) to hTask=4A4 hWnd=901DA->C024E lParam=0
5872794 WM_DDE_TERMINATE (P) to hTask=0 hWnd=901DA->C024E lParam=0

[cube_rat]

Sounds like you have a corrupt VBA or macro thing going on. Are you the creator of this particular file?

[soupcxan]

It's not one particular file...this 10-15 second lag occurs with all files that I open. Same lag happens when opening Word files as well which makes me think it's a DDE problem with the Office suite or Windows 2000 (Pro) in general.

I have a few small macros saved in my personal excel workbook, but they haven't changed in a long time...don't know why they would start causing a problem now.

[cube_rat]

Can you run the files from another desktop or are they local to your hard drive?

[laurence]

Have you already done the usual, reinstalled last service pack for your flavor of windows and uninstalled/reinstalled office?

[cube_rat]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Laurence Have you already done the usual, reinstalled last service pack for your flavor of windows and uninstalled/reinstalled office?

Or how about reimaging the machine? I hate MS products even though they rule our lives.

[cute fuzzy bunny]

Checked for viri?

[cube_rat]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cute Fuzzy Bunny Checked for viri?

Viri?? Viral, Vital, Viril

[soupcxan]

Norton says the machine is virus free.

Files are all local on my hard drive (not on the network).

We tried uninstalling/reinstalled MS Office but that didn't help.

Haven't tried uninstalling/reinstalling the windows SP...not even sure if I can (don't have the admin password and can't get to Windows Update because IT controls all the patches, which are installed automatically).

Reimaging the laptop may be my last resort but it is a hassle to get IT to do it, means you have to be without a computer for at least 1/2 a day, which means no work can get done. I'm looking for a solution that is not so drastic.

[cube_rat]

I still think it's a VBA or macro thing. Just because Word drags and you get the same error message doesn't necessarily mean it's an overall office issue. Both programs can very well be sharing the same components. DDE references Dynamic Data Exchange which is the engine/basis for object linking and embedding. Have you made changes to a dependent document recently?? I would start looking at my most recent changes and debug from there.

[cube_rat]

BTW - are you Excel files reading from a database such as Access? Or are you storing data within an the Excel file (shudder)?

[cube_rat]

Also, if your files are reading from a database, has your data source changed recently (from Access to SQL server)? Just thowing all of these questions out there....

[cute fuzzy bunny]

Latest service packs for Office applied?

[cute fuzzy bunny]

Create a new "user" in system administration. Log out and log in as that user. See if the problem persists.

If it does, log back in to the original user, look for and delete any .TMP or .EMF files. Delete any files/directories under c:\temp or c:\windows\temp.

Right click on the disk, pick Tools, then cleanup and let it remove any excess files.

See if that fixes it.

[Rustic23]

when you uninstalled the software, did you go back and manually delete the directories? Also you might try running something like Crap Cleaner (free download I think it is ccleaner.exe) it will let you clean up the registry also. I have had other programs that I thought I had deleted only to find out they leave registry settings and files behind.

[soupcxan]

Not sure if Office was fully deleted, as IT did it, but it was removed and reinstalled. I don't have the CD so I can't reinstall myself. I've also tried the "repair my installation" option for Office in Add/Remove Programs but that had no effect.

Created a new local user and logged in, problem is same as under the normal account.

Deleted all TMP files and temporary files in TEMP directories. Only found one .EMF file, called "MS.EMF" and didn't want to delete it without knowing what it is. I don't have Disk Cleanup under tools because this is Windows 2k, not XP.

There is no connection from Excel to any database. All these files are stand-alone excel workbooks on my local hard drive. These files aren't linked to any other files either, so don't think its a dependency issue.

SP3 for Office 2000 is applied.

I removed all my macros from personal.xls in the excel startup folder but problem is still there.

Research on google suggested that running "excel /regserver" would help but that had no effect.

The problem has to be related to DDE...if I go into Explorer, Tools, Folder Options, File Types, and edit the "Open" file actions for .XLS, and I turn off "Use DDE" then excel opens any file in under 1 second. The problem with this is that it creates a new excel window each time I open a file...I need to have multiple workbooks open in the same window. I tried adding the "/automation" or "/s" switchs (Excel's safe mode) to the excel command line in the DDE window but that also had no effect.

I live in Excel so this is really annoying!

[cute fuzzy bunny]

Try renaming that MS.EMF file to something else. Its a metafile that may contain information that excel wants to load along with any existing worksheet. These can grow in size and/or number and cause long load times. The EMF file may reference data on network drives or external drives that are offline. Hence the long wait.

If it doesnt help or hurts, rename it back.

[cube_rat]

Have you debugged your macros or VBA code? If the debugging fails, rename the file to something else and start parsing out code (in the renamed file) line by line until the file behaves. My gut tells me it's your configuration or your macros. Are you linked (the operative word you used is: workbooks, which tells me your workbooks are linked) to other spreadsheets? It's really hard to troubleshoot with seeing the file.

[soupcxan]

Appreciate your help...I deleted the macros entirely, so they shouldn't be a factor. As far as linking goes...here is what I'm doing:

- open a blank excel file, put "abc" in the first cell, save the file to the desktop (there's no linking to other spreadsheets)

Now when I double click on that file on the desktop, it takes 10-15 seconds to open. However, if I already have excel running, and I go to File...Open... and select that file, it opens in less than 1 second. If I open excel with a blank worksheet, it takes less than 1 second. The lag is only a problem when opening an existing file from the desktop or from Explorer.

Quote:

Originally Posted by cube_rat Have you debugged your macros or VBA code?* *If the debugging fails, rename the file to something else and start parsing out code (in the renamed file) line by line until the file behaves.* My gut tells me it's your configuration or your macros.* Are you linked (the operative word you used is: workbooks, which tells me your workbooks are linked) to other spreadsheets?* It's really hard to troubleshoot with seeing the file.*

[cube_rat]

Quote:

Originally Posted by soupcxan Appreciate your help...I deleted the macros entirely, so they shouldn't be a factor. As far as linking goes...here is what I'm doing: - open a blank excel file, put "abc" in the first cell, save the file to the desktop (there's no linking to other spreadsheets) Now when I double click on that file on the desktop, it takes 10-15 seconds to open. However, if I already have excel running, and I go to File...Open... and select that file, it opens in less than 1 second. If I open excel with a blank worksheet, it takes less than 1 second. The lag is only a problem when opening an existing file from the desktop or from Explorer.

got the picture now! So, when you attempt to open brand new file you just saved it takes forever to open. However opening from an already running excel window brings up the file lickety split. Have you done a ctl/alt/del to see what in heck else is running in the background on your desktop. Excel needs lot's of memory to load. Have you loaded any executables to your desktop recently