Windows 7: there was a problem sending the command to the program

Try this then (which worked for me--none of the previous ideas worked).

I;m using excel 2002 and win 7. So when you right click on the excel.exe file in the office 10 folder, go to properties and then run in compatibility mode tab, click on 'windows 7' and exit.

My excel files now open properly with NO "There is a problem sending the command to the program error."

• Proposed As Answer by Gus Sanchez Monday, January 02, 2012 4:46 AM
• Marked As Answer by David WoltersMicrosoft Contingent Staff, Moderator Wednesday, February 08, 2012 3:59 PM

ok, just because i don't have the petiance to wait for you to answer to my first question about which excel version you'r using i'll just give my solution for all the people who have Windows 7 and office 2007:
the solution involves making little changes in the registry so i recommend making back up for just in case:
strart - run - regedit:
Left column
HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT/Excel.Sheet.8/shell/Open/commend:
Right column {adding (space)"%1"}
Double Click on (Default) and write - "C:\Program Files\Microsoft Office\Office12\EXCEL.EXE" /e "%1"
Right Click on Command – choose "rename" and add something to the name - for example 2 (commend2).
Left column
HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT/Excel.Sheet.8/shell/Open/ddeexec:
Right Click on the folder ddeexec and choose "rename" and add something to the name - for example 2 (ddeexec2)
Left column
HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT/Excel.Sheet.12/shell/Open/commend:
Right column {adding (space)"%1"}
Double Click on (Default) and write -"C:\Program Files\Microsoft Office\Office12\EXCEL.EXE" /e "%1"
Right Click on Command – choose "rename" and add something to the name - for example 2 (commend2).
no restart needed
Have Fun
hope i helped