Excel/Word Interaction results in corrupted workbook   

So ... here's a strange (and VERY devastating) event.
OS:  Win XP-SP3 Build 2600
Office 2007 SP1
System: Dell XPS-630i, 4GM RAM, 3.2GHZ Intel Core 2 Dual Core

I have a complex spreadsheet with about 12 sheets, and a ton of complicated 
equations.  I have used this spreadsheet for 3 years, no problems.  Recently 
upgraded (Automatic Updates) to XP-SP3 and Office 2007 SP-1
I have performed the following sequence of events numerous times in the past 
with no problems:
1.  I open the spreadsheet and update some data.  
2.  I highlight a small block of cells (say, 7 columns, 15 rows) and hit 
CTRL-C to copy to the clipboard.
3.  Leaving Excel running, I open a blank Word document and CTRL-V (Paste) 
the data.
4.  I return to the spreadsheet and save it to disk,
5.  I return to the Word document, save it, close Word.
6.  I open the Excel spreadsheet and ... 90% of the cells in ALL the sheets 
are wiped out, displaying 1-JUN-00!  This includes cells which previously 
held only data, no equations.

Note that the data in Excel was OK when I closed Excel.  When it is 
reopened, the data is destroyed.
	
I can create this scenario repeatedly.  I can even select a different block 
of data to copy and paste - it doesn't matter, the spreadsheet gets destroyed.

I can also prevent it from happening, by closing the spreadsheet BEFORE 
pasting the block into Word.  This is my workaround, but I am intrigued by 
this problem … and concerned.

To perhaps narrow down the cause here are the results of some tests I 
conducted:
Test 1:  another computer, same software – no problem
Test 2:  Copy/paste to Notepad, Textpad , Outlook, new Excel workbook, 
Powerpoint, Publisher  - no problem.  Copy/paste to Word – PROBLEM
Test 3:  15 iterations, fresh copy each time.  Using same workbook, copy 
different sections from different sheets in the workbook to Word – PROBLEM 
in every instance.  Doesn’t matter what you copy – text, data, calculations, 
etc.
Test 4.  Copy something, open Word but DO NOT PASTE.  Close Excel (No save). 
 Close Word.  Open Workbook - PROBLEM
Test 5: open workbook, copy something, open Word, close workbook (save), 
open workbook - PROBLEM
Test 6: open workbook, copy something, open Word, close workbook (no save), 
open workbook - NO PROBLEM
Test 7: open Word, open workbook, copy something, paste to word, close Excel 
 (save), close Word, open workbook - NO PROBLEM
Test 8: open Word, open workbook, copy something, paste to word, close Excel 
(no save), close Word, open workbook - NO PROBLEM

So, seems to be isolated to Word/Excel - no other Office apps or 'foreign' 
programs.  Apparently happens only on this machine - but I REALLY hesitate to 
draw that conclusion!  Not enough data.
Also, seems that reversing the open order (Tests 7 and 8 - Word first, then 
Excel) eliminates the problem!

Office Diagnostics come back negative.

Ron

date: Fri, 4 Jul 2008 17:50:00 -0700   author:   Ron