Windows Explorer / Microsoft office programs access failing

Hi,
Out of the blue I can no longer open a file via Windows Explore using either Word or Excel.
I can open Word or Excel files that are in the recent document list or I can open Word or Excel and use the open folder under the office button. Any other access via Windows Explorer e.g. .TXT .JPG or .MP3 is OK I just can't get to a file with Word or Excel from Windows Explorer. Does someone have a suggestion for me before I revert to a restore point?
Thanks
Frank C
My office is 2007

Try to reset the word and excel associations. If that does not work
Try to reset the exe and lnk (LNK) associations.
Default File Type Associations - Restore

Hi Richc46
Thank you for the reply.The program/file associations were correct in Control Panel > Default Programs > Set Associations, I did change them to the same value thinking that this could be a reset. .
I went to a restore point prior to the last Microsoft Office security update (KB2687314) The problem no longer exists. Of course, I can't be certain that the security update caused the problem.I found no reports by others citing that update. I will re-do the things that I was doing prior to the problem and test the access at each step.This involved clean up of the download folder and cleanup of unnecessary start up programs. If I discover anything I will report back.
Thanks
Frank C

Could not duplicate
I restored to a point prior to the twelve Oct 10 Microsoft updates where my problem no longer manifested itself.
I then re-installed those updates in five batches.
The seven Updates for Vista
The one Works update and the one Word 2003 update
The one Infopath update
The one security update for Word
The one office 2007 suite update
I tested after each update and the problem did not re-occur.
The unnecessary start programs that I had disabled were still disabled.
The download folder was as I had left it - cleaned up.
Therefore, the difficulty of not being able to open Word or Excel files via Windows Explorer remains unexplained but it no longer exists.
Frank C