Connie Kriebel asks:
Suddenly I cannot open Excel files by double (left) clicking on files on the desktop or in email. I believe it is a problem with file associations, though I try to open with excel and it still does not work.
Any ideas how to fix this?
Browser: Explorer 9
System: Windows 7
Tagged: excel, file associations, open file, software tips, windows tips
System: Windows 7
Tagged: excel, file associations, open file, software tips, windows tips
14 Answers -
Bruce Epper
July 15, 2012If you can’t open the file via the Open option inside Excel or dragging the file into a running instance of Excel, the file itself could be corrupted.If it is just a matter of not being able ot open the file via a double-click, right-click and select Open with… In the resulting dialog box, select Excel and make sure the checkbox for ‘Always use the selected program to open this kind of file’ is ticked.
Susendeep Dutta
July 15, 2012I think that you are facing problem of file association.Makeuseof has an article related to this -
2 Best Tools To Change Or Remove File Type Associations [Windows] -
http://www.makeuseof.com/tag/2-tools-change-remove-file-type-associations-windows/
Alan Wade
July 15, 2012Create a new Excel file and save it to the desktop.
Double click on it, does that open with Excel?
The new Excel file does not need to contain data, it is just to check the file associations.
July 15, 2012cant open my excel file
October 18, 2012Irshaad Abdool
July 15, 2012try to open it using another PC. if it works, then your copy of microsoft office needs troubleshooting. else, the spreadsheet file is corrupted. repair it, or recover from older files
ha14
July 15, 2012you can try this microsoft fix it that will reset reset user options and registry settings in Word
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/822005
this will reset microsoft office like new as if you installed it freshly. pethaps you will have to reconfigure outlook after this fix?
Muhammad Ahmad
July 15, 2012I think your excel got corrupted. You need to diagnose the excel, alternatively you can uninstall and re-install the excel to fix the problem.
Fakhruddin Ahmad
July 15, 2012open explorer.
right click on any excel spreadsheet (.xlsx or .xls, if i remember correctly).
a properties dialog will appear.
try to find “open with” option, click “change”, and then choose microsoft excel.
click ok then.
see if anything changes. if problem persist, tell me.
Gaurav
July 16, 2012First of all try opening other office files like Word, if it opens, then MS office is working. Then check do you have Excel package installed in your system. Then check the hardware settings for your mouse.
Ben
July 17, 2012Try opening an excel file from your computer in another computer that has Excel. If it successfully opens, then you need to re-install / repair Excel on your computer. If it fails to open then the file is corrupt.
Gian Singh
July 17, 2012Right click, then open with, select excel and make it your default for .xls and done.
FIDELIS
August 27, 2012Hello, does this happen with any excell files? or just the one? If it happens only with one specific file, then that file might be corrupted. You could try opening an excel file known to have open in the past and see if you get same result.
This may not apply to your scenario, but try opening your file, then go to Window > Unhide.
October 31, 2012Irina
October 31, 2012Try opening your file, then go to Window >> Unhide.
I had a similar issue – it looked like the file was being open, there was a progress bar, and then nothing would happen. Turns out the file was opening OK, but it was hidden from view.
Abba Jee
November 25, 2012if you can’t open excel file you made your own, maybe you need to scan your system for virus , or maybe office files got corrupted you need to repair it once
Paul Pruitt
December 10, 2012See my steps to recovering from Excel corruption: http://s2services.com/excel.htm.
There is also Microsoft’s steps: http://office.microsoft.com/en-us/excel-help/repairing-corrupted-files-in-excel-HA001034656.aspx for xls files and http://office.microsoft.com/en-us/excel-help/repairing-a-corrupted-workbook-HA010097017.aspx for xlsx file. My freeware program tries to bring all of Microsoft’s methods except one into one simple GUI, with each method launchable with a single button push: http://sourceforge.net/projects/corruptexcelrec/.
Also there is a long post by Norman Harker within this thread that is quite good I think: https://groups.google.com/forum/?fromgroups=#!topic/microsoft.public.excel.misc/7sMlwy0hQL4.