Excel files hang when opened on a network share

First thing that popped into my head was antivirus. Try disabling it temporarily.
Just to narrow the scope, does this happen for all users on all computers? If not, you need to narrow down if the problem is a user or a system.
What exactly happens when you try to open an Excel file from the network? If there is an error message, please post.

It is happening to both users who have full rights to the share.  They were able to open and work on the Excel files from the location a couple of days ago.  The file eventually opens after about 20 minutes.  No error message.

Does it happen only when "double clicking" the icon on the share?  If Excel is opened to a blank document, and then File ... Open (or Office Button ... Open, depending on version), does the delay exist there, too?  If the file(s) are on a different network share on a different server, does the delay still happen?

DrUltima

Can anyone else access these files with no problems? Also can they create a new file and save it there and open it okay, or does it cause delays.

I'd still try disbaling their anti-virus and retest. Its usually quick and easy to check.

Disabling the antivirus didnt resolve the issue...  One of the users was able to create an Excel file locally, copy it, paste it on the network share and was able to open it fine.

MYCU,

Would you mind terrible addressing the questions asked in post http:#a35477714 ?

Respectfully,

DrUltima

Does it happen only when "double clicking" the icon on the share?  If Excel is opened to a blank document, and then File ... Open (or Office Button ... Open, depending on version), does the delay exist there, too?  If the file(s) are on a different network share on a different server, does the delay still happen?

Not at all,
 It happens (the delay exists) whether the file is double click or access directly from  Excel opened to a blank document, and then File ... Open.

I dont have a different server to test it on, but when the file is copied from the network share to a pc the file opens normally.

I noticed that the time delay it takes to open the file is correlated to its size.  e.g. a 72 kb opens almost immediately whereas a 3640 kb spreadsheet takes about 3 minutes.

Since you don't have another server to copy this to, is it safe to assume that your server is not only a file server but also a DC, DNS, DHCP, etc.?  If so, what other Roles and Services does it host?  Each of these play into the network responsiveness and will give us clues where to look.

DrUltima

Additionally, what is the OS of the server and client(s) and the version of Excel?

DrUltima

Correct, the server is temporarily acting as a File server and a DC.  The OS of the server is Microsoft Windows Server 2003 R2.  The clients OS is Windows XP Pro.  Excel is 2003.

Since the problem first occurred 4/25/2011 ("as of yesterday"), I am going to ask if anything changed then (adding a new role, for example)?  Also, any reboots since the problem first manifested?

No changes except work done on Excel spreadsheets. The department clients machines have been rebooted since, so has the server.

Have you used network monitoring to see how many open, concurrent threads you have on that server?  Windows 2003 is limited to just under 4000 threads (not users or computers) at a time by default.  Because the server is also a DC, etc., it could be that the larger files cause too many threads to be opened.

Have you done any tweaking of this server to try to address this?

DrUltima

Not yet, but that sounds like a reasonable cause and effect for the issue.  I'll look into it.

At least if two users have the same problem from two different systems, we know it isn't specifically PC related.

A lot has happened on this thread, so I might have missed it, but also try disabling antivirus on the workstation (and server, if you have it). It also might pay to have a look at the network load in task manager, and even the switch, just to see if anything is busier than normal.

Uninstalled the interferring patch.

We are experiencing the exact same symptoms, would you mind identifying the patch you uninstalled?

Nevermind, found that it was the Microsoft Office File Validation Update. http://support.microsoft.com/kb/2501584. Thanks for pointing in the right direction.

I had the same problem this afternoon. To fix I had to uninstall the Microsoft Office File Validator Add-in that had automatically installed via update. Everything is back to normal now.