hi, each time i open a excel or word file it requests a virus scan and takes about 20 mins to open the file.. very frustrating, and I do not have norton, I used to but no longer have it, i do not have any virus protection software installed. Please tell me how to rectify this problem before I pull my hair out. thanks Lyndal

It sounds like you might still have parts of Norton still on your computer. Check your Excel to see if you have if a Norton selected as an option to do virus scanning program registered. On the Tools menu, point to Macro, and then click Security. Then try changing the option to none. If this does not work use the Norton removal tool available at; http://service1.symantec.com/SUPPOR...

Also, RegSeeker is also very good for registry searching, click on > Find in registry, tick all the boxes in > Keys, put a word ( example Norton & Symantec ) in > Search for : & click > Search. Now you have a list on one page, of all the registry entries for Norton. http://www.hoverdesk.net/freeware.htm RegSeeker is a perfect companion for your Windows registry! RegSeeker includes a powerful registry cleaner and can display various informations like your startup entries, several histories (even index.dat files), installed applications and much more! With RegSeeker you can search for any item inside your registry, export/delete the results, open them in the registry. RegSeeker also includes a tweaks panel to optimize your OS! RegSeeker is FREE for personal use only! My personal use, is to, delete only the Green entries. Click on Select All and choose > Select all Green items. Right click on a Green item to delete all Green files. 1: Click on > Clean the registry. 2: Click on OK. 3: When searching is finished, click on > Select All & choose > Select all Green items. 4: Right click on any Green item & click on > Delete selected items.

Thank you for your help.. it worked Capt..

lyndalrq, Thanks you so much for letting me know how things worked out!