How to open Excel files in separate windows in Windows 7

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By default, Excel files are opened in a same window in Windows 7. But sometimes you might want to view some files at the same time on your screen. To do this, you can start a new Excel process (excel.exe) by clicking the Excel button from the Start menu. However, you can configure your computer to always open Excel files in separate windows. We recommend that you only use the method in this article when your computer has sufficient RAM.

Method 1: Fix it for me

To have us configure your computer to open Excel files in different windows for you, click the Fix it button or link. Then click Runin the File Download dialog box, and follow the steps in the Fix it wizard. (Note Because the change involves modifying registry keys, the Fix it package will create a registry backup at your desktop.) Solve this problem Microsoft Fix it 50801

Method two: Let me fix it myself

Press Win+R on your keyboard to start a Run command box, and then type regedit.exe, Enter, open the registry editor.

If you are prompted for an administrator password or for confirmation, type your password, or click Yes.

IMPORTANT: If you modify the registry keys incorrectly, serious problems may occur. Therefore, make sure that you carefully follow these steps. Navigate to the registry key: HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\Excel.Sheet.12\shell\Open Right-click the key, and then click Export. This step is to back up the registry key.

After you back up the key, follow these step: 1. Change the value of the Open\command registry key.

To do this, expand Command, double-click the Default entry, and then change the value to the following

(with the quotes): Office 2010: "C:\Program Files\Microsoft Office\Office14\EXCEL.EXE" "%1" Office 2007: "C:\Program Files\Microsoft Office\Office12\EXCEL.EXE" "%1"

Then, double-click the command key, move the cursor to the end of the string, and then replace /dde with "%1". If you are using Office 2007, replace /e with "%1".

2. Rename Open\ddeexec. To do this, right-click ddeexec, click Rename, and then change it to a new name. For example, ddeexec2.

In the same way, repeat the above steps to back up and modify the HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\Excel.Sheet.8\shell\Open registry key.

Now check if you open Excel files in separate windows.