Importing excel tables into Access 97

We have a computer system that will not allow MS Access to import Excel table data. Excel tables(*.xls) are not listed as an available file type in the import dialog. When we attempt to install the option through Office setup, it is not available.(grayed out). Reinstalling Office completely did not help. I suspect that OBDC has something to do with this, but I don’t know what to do about it. The system is running Win NT 4.0 sp6a, and the Office 97 service packs are installed.