Linked Server & Open Excel Spreadsheet

[Database Administrator]

Hi

Using SQL Server 2000 and Excel 8.0 (2002) I have created a linked server
which successfully extracts data from a spreadsheet. However the spreadsheet
is left open on the remote server as there is a frequent refresh process in
operation. When I attempt to link to the open spreadsheet I get the following
error message:

Server: Msg 7399, Level 16, State 1, Line 1
OLE DB provider 'Microsoft.Jet.OLEDB.4.0' reported an error. The provider
did not give any information about the error.
OLE DB error trace [OLE/DB Provider 'Microsoft.Jet.OLEDB.4.0'
IDBInitialize::Initialize returned 0x80004005: The provider did not give any
information about the error.].

Is there a way round this? Is it possible to link to an open spreadsheet or
must the file be closed when linking? Are there any possible workarounds or
alternative strategies for this?

Thanks in advance,
Dave