SOLVED Recent Slowdown When Excel 2000 Opens Its Files

[Skeezix]

Since early January (or since the last two Windows 10 updates, not sure which) Excel 2000 takes 15-20 seconds to open its files. It used to take not more than around 5 seconds. If anyone has any ideas what could be causing this I would appreciate hearing from them.

 

[velvetviper]

If you're experiencing a recent slowdown when opening files in Excel 2000, several factors could be causing the issue. Here are some common reasons and solutions:
Possible Causes & Fixes
1. Too Many Add-ins
Cause: Excel add-ins (such as third-party tools or macros) can slow down file opening.
Solution:

1. Open Excel in Safe Mode by holding Ctrl while launching Excel.
2. Disable add-ins:
3. Go to Tools > Add-Ins and uncheck any unnecessary ones.
4. Restart Excel and check if the issue persists.

2. Large or Corrupted Excel Files
Cause: Large file sizes or corruption can make opening slow.
Solution:

• Try opening the file in a new Excel instance by holding Shift while clicking on the file.
• Copy-paste data into a new workbook to see if performance improves.
• Use File > Save As to save the file in a new location.

3. Network or Drive Issues
Cause: If the file is stored on a network or external drive, slow access speeds can cause delays.
Solution:

• Copy the file to your local drive and try opening it from there.
• Check if other network files are slow, which could indicate a network issue.

4. Recent Windows Updates or System Changes
Cause: A Windows update or system change might have affected Excel’s performance.
Solution:

1. Try running System Restore to a point before the slowdown started.
2. Ensure your system drivers are up to date.

5. Excel Startup Folder Issues

Cause: Excel checks certain directories for startup files, and too many files can slow loading.
Solution:
Check the XLSTART folder:
Navigate to: C:\Program Files\Microsoft Office\Office\XLSTART
Remove unnecessary files.
Also check:
C:\Users\YourUsername\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Excel\XLSTART

6. Antivirus Interference

Cause: Some antivirus programs scan Excel files, causing slow opening.
Solution:
Temporarily disable your antivirus and check if Excel opens faster.
If confirmed, add Excel to the exclusions list in your antivirus settings.

7. Excel 2000 Compatibility Issues on Modern Systems

Cause: Running Excel 2000 on newer Windows versions (like Windows 10/11) might cause compatibility problems.
Solution:
Run in Compatibility Mode:
Right-click Excel.exe > Properties > Compatibility tab.
Select Windows XP (Service Pack 3) mode and Run as administrator.
Consider upgrading to a newer Excel version for better compatibility.

 

[Skeezix]

HERE'S THE FIX:
Uncheck Run as administrator. Excel will start normally, all Sheet tabs will appear and the process should take around one second. (It will take a few seconds more if an add-on such as ASAP Utilities is enabled.)

BTW, Excel runs on Windows 10 without problems (unless you screw something up like I did, that is ).