Excel Add-in doesn't get the hint

Question

I have an excel add-in that keeps coming back when I start excel, even though I've removed it from the last open instance of excel (yes I checked the processes in task manager).

The critter even shows up when I start excel in safe mode.

Anybody else had this?

Answer 1

Perhaps the add-in file is sitting in the Excel startup directory?

Tools -> Options -> General -> 'At startup, open all files in'

As well as the entry in this setting, Excel may also be implictly loading the add-in from folders such as

C:\Program Files\Microsoft Office\OfficeVersion\Xlstart

C:\Documents and Settings\User name\Application Data\Microsoft\Excel\XLSTART

Any folder named 'xlstart' is a candidate - perhaps it's worth searching your C drive for such folders and/or the actual name of the add-in file.

Also, check the registry for Excel OPEN entries. Start -> Run -> regedit -> HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Office\version\Excel\Options. Look for any values named OPENx.