Hya everyone well here I have another problem. I was sent an email with an attachment which is in microsoft excel. I cannot open the attachment. I get an error message stating 'This file does not have a programme associated with it for performing this action. Create an association in the folder options control panel.' I use microsoft works in windows xp home. Can anyone advise.

Excel Viewer 2003

First ask yourself; Can I open an *.xls document with a double click and get Excel running?

1. If not, then you need Excel to be the default document processor OR install an Excel Viewer.
2. If so, then your email reader is not launching Excel properly

for case [1], if you're brave enough:
HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\.xls\PersistentHandler\(default)->{98de59a0-d175-11cd-a7bd-00006b827d94}

there are other Class Root keys but this is the primary.