' Test to see if a copy of Excel is already running.
Private Sub testExcelRunning()
    On Error Resume Next
    ' GetObject called without the first argument returns a
    ' reference to an instance of the application. If the
    ' application is not already running, an error occurs.
    Dim excelObj As Object = GetObject(, "Excel.Application")
    If Err.Number = 0 Then
        MsgBox("Excel is running")
    Else
        MsgBox("Excel is not running")
    End If
    Err.Clear()
    excelObj = Nothing
End Sub

Private Sub getExcel()
    Dim fileName As String = "c:\vb\test.xls"

    If Not My.Computer.FileSystem.FileExists(fileName) Then
        MsgBox(fileName & " does not exist")
        Exit Sub
    End If

    ' Set the object variable to refer to the file you want to use.
    Dim excelObj As Object = GetObject(fileName)
    ' Show Excel through its Application property. 
    excelObj.Application.Visible = True
    ' Show the window containing the file.
    Dim winCount As Integer = excelObj.Parent.Windows.Count()
    excelObj.Parent.Windows(winCount).Visible = True

    ' Insert additional code to manipulate the test.xls file here.
    ' ...

    excelObj = Nothing
End Sub