Excel Files saving in invalid file format

Question

I recently bought an Acer Switch 12 and installed Microsoft Office 2013 on it. 

Midway through last week, I've been encountering this error:

The error is not restricted to just the file above. It's been happening to most of the excel files I am constantly using, and I cannot determine the cause.

I have already run my antivirus, malware and spyware softwares, including Microsoft Safety Scanner, but the error still persists. I have had to restore my files several times already, to the point that any work I've done for a day sometimes get negated by the restoration. Can somebody help me with my problem?

Answer 1

@Kristine De Guzman,

The missing header was all it was lacking, after all.

The good news is that, this was easy (with the appropriate tool) to reconstruct it.

And the file is now fine for use in any Excel version.

I have uploaded it here : http://www.arstdesign.com/papers/2015\_GSN\_applicant\_tracker\_Copy.2.zip

(It's a 882 KB file. It's zipped that's why it's ten times smaller than yours)

Question is how to avoid this in the future. Answer begins by testing if this is a systematic problem in your current Excel 2013 install. You can answer the question by creating a trivial file.

Answer 2

Hello Kristine,

Have you checked the default save file format. To do this:-

1. Select menu option File -> Options -> Save
2. At the top of the dialog click the DropDown adjacent to "Save file this format"
3. Select "Excel workbook (*.xlsx)

Answer 3

Hello Kristine,

Have you checked the default save file format. To do this:-

1. Select menu option File -> Options -> Save
2. At the top of the dialog click the DropDown adjacent to "Save file this format"
3. Select "Excel workbook (*.xlsx)

Hi Ossiemac,

My MS Excel already has those settings. The current files I am using, though, need to be saved in older versions because other workstations that I use and other colleagues that need the file do not have Excel versions capable of opening xlsx files.

Do you think it is because the files are saved in an older excel format that is causing the problem?

Answer 4

Do you think it is because the files are saved in an older excel format that is causing the problem?

Can't be certain. How old are the old versions? Are they older than excel 97-2003 versions? If not then try the following.

Select Save as -> Computer -> Documents      (Note: This may not be exactly as your set up but you need to get to the Excel Save Dialog.)

In the "Save as type" field from the DropDown Select Excel 97 - 2003 Workbook (*.xls).

If that doesn't work then I don't think I can help.

Answer 5

Do you think it is because the files are saved in an older excel format that is causing the problem?

Can't be certain. How old are the old versions? Are they older than excel 97-2003 versions? If not then try the following.

Select Save as -> Computer -> Documents      (Note: This may not be exactly as your set up but you need to get to the Excel Save Dialog.)

In the "Save as type" field from the DropDown Select Excel 97 - 2003 Workbook (*.xls).

If that doesn't work then I don't think I can help.

Hi Ossiemac,

My files are in Excel 97-2003 Workbook (*.xls) format.

I've saved some of them in xlsx format today so I can observe the behavior over the next few days.