Shortcuts wantto open document twice !!

[jk]

Archived from groups: microsoft.public.windowsxp.general (More info?)

G'day,

I have just bought a laptop and desktop both running XP Pro and wanted to
create some shortcuts on my desktop to my Excel files. The shortcuts showed
up but everytime I click on them the program says that the file is already
open and if I wish to open it again and override the old one. It happens on
both computers (brand new) and with any file not just Exel files.
This makes me believe that this is some sort of setting in XP that does
this, and it makes all desktop shortcuts useless.

Can anyone help me out...much appreciated (buy you a beer if you come down
under)
Cheers

 

[Malke]

Archived from groups: microsoft.public.windowsxp.general (More info?)

JK wrote:

> G'day,
>
> I have just bought a laptop and desktop both running XP Pro and wanted
> to
> create some shortcuts on my desktop to my Excel files. The shortcuts
> showed up but everytime I click on them the program says that the file
> is already
> open and if I wish to open it again and override the old one. It
> happens on both computers (brand new) and with any file not just Exel
> files. This makes me believe that this is some sort of setting in XP
> that does this, and it makes all desktop shortcuts useless.
>
> Can anyone help me out...much appreciated (buy you a beer if you come
> down under)
> Cheers

OK, since no one has answered this I'll give it a shot. First of all, of
course you can create and use shortcuts on an XP desktop. Since I can't
see what you're doing and I don't know anything about your skill level,
here are a few things to check:

1. Do you have the mousing options set to open things with a single
click or a double click? If the former, try using a double-click
instead. Perhaps your hand isn't as steady as it should be. This is not
an insult - I have lots of older customers and some of them have
trouble mousing.

2. Since there are two different computers involved, you know it isn't
the mouse. What is the common factor? Something you installed that is
running? Or you? Again, this is not meant to hurt your feelings.

If you aren't very computer-savvy, then have a knowledgeable friend (one
who is *really* knowledgeable and not one who just *says* he is) or a
computer professional come on-site and watch you. I had a customer
bring me a desktop; he said that nothing would open. The machine was
perfect. I went to his house and watched him and in two seconds I saw
that he was double-clicking the mouse too slowly. He is older and all
we needed to do was slow down the mouse response time. Perhaps there is
something similar in your issue.

Malke
--
Elephant Boy Computers
www.elephantboycomputers.com
"Don't Panic!"
MS-MVP Windows - Shell/User

 

[Guest]

Archived from groups: microsoft.public.windowsxp.general (More info?)

Hi JK,

Are you still having this problem? I have the same and have found several
similar postings with no answer...What version of office are you using? I'm
using Office 97 with Windows XP and wondered if it needs updating

Regards

"JK" wrote:

> G'day,
>
> I have just bought a laptop and desktop both running XP Pro and wanted to
> create some shortcuts on my desktop to my Excel files. The shortcuts showed
> up but everytime I click on them the program says that the file is already
> open and if I wish to open it again and override the old one. It happens on
> both computers (brand new) and with any file not just Exel files.
> This makes me believe that this is some sort of setting in XP that does
> this, and it makes all desktop shortcuts useless.
>
> Can anyone help me out...much appreciated (buy you a beer if you come down
> under)
> Cheers