Someone from USENET got me the correct answer.

It seems I entered a path in TOOLS/OPITONS/GENERAL for the "Alternate
Startup File Location".

This is misleading since it is directly under "Default file location".  I
had just assumed it was another place Excel would "look" and I totally
ignored the word "startup" in the description.  So, whenever I "started"
Excel, it would always load the files found there.  If Microsoft had left
off the word "Alternate" it probably would not have misled me.

On Fri, 4 Dec 1998, gsd wrote:

> Tracy,
>
> You may have already had some responses to your problem that you posted on
> USENET but I will throw mine out there as well.
>
> Launching Excel will do TWO things:
>
> Run the EXCEL.EXE file (thus starting the program)
>
> Load any files (Excel or not) that exist in the "Alternate File Location"
> folder.  If you look in TOOLS/OPTIONS/GENERAL (Excel 97 for me) you will see
> where this is defined.  This folder should generally be clear of any files
> whatsoever.

Tracy Johnson
[log in to unmask]