>>Can you post the code, that is calling Excel?
>
>X=CREATEOBJECT('Excel.Application')
>X.WORKBOOKS.OPEN(CFILE)
>X.VISIBLE=.T.

You should postpone the releasing of "X" or its going out of scope till excel exits.

*Excel commands ...
myHandle = fopen(cFile,12)
do while myHandle < 0
 myHandle = fopen(cFile,12) && Try to open temp xls read-write
enddo
=fclose(myHandle) && Excel released it
Release X
*ERASE (cFile) && If you want to do this !

You could also declare X as public.
Cetin