My Excel XLS files are not opening!

Question

For some reason, starting this Monday after a Windows Update (16.11.2020), my XLS Excel files are not opening.

I'm not sure if the issue is that it is XLS and not XLSX. It could also be because the files are downloaded from the internet (my company's site).

When I try to open the file a the Excel software says it's "Starting" or sometimes "Opening the XXX file" and that's it. The software gets stuck forever:

I've done everything I could to fix this:

• I've tried repairing the whole Microsoft Office 365 (including uninstalling and downloading again).
• Unblocking the files didn't help.
• Unchecking the protected view checkboxes didn't help.
• Using outside software didn't help.

Does anybody have another idea for this? Does anyone know why this is happening?

I really need these files for my day-to-day work, please help!

Thank you,

Arbel

Answer 1

I finally found a solution! If I copy the files to a computer location (meaning - not a OneDrive location), it opens fine!

For some reason, when the file is located on the cloud, on a OneDrive location, it doesn't open. 

I got the idea from this post: 

https://answers.microsoft.com/en-us/msoffice/forum/all/xls-files-dont-open-from-onedrive/b0198ae7-11b1-4ab9-9247-ce88d2470f83

Subject: ".xls files don't open from onedrive"

When I download a file to my Desktop, which is on OneDrive and not the PC, it automatically saves it on the cloud. When I copied the files to the PC, for example to Local Disk (C:), and then opened it, it opened without issues.

This made me think the problem is not with Excel or with Windows, but with OneDrive!

Thank you for the help, and please fix this issue soon, so we will be able to open xls files on OneDrive.

Answer 2

Hi ArbelYellin,

We appreciate that you posted back and shared updates with us. We also appreciate that you spent your precious time doing those tests.

As we can view .xls workbook (Excel 97-2003 Workbook) in Excel online but can’t edit them. To edit the workbook online, one should convert to the newest file format i.e. xlsx.

Now coming back to your question, based on your description, I tested on my end and uploaded a .xls workbook to OneDrive for business. In Excel online, I can view this workbook in read only mode and when I tried to edit, it gave me options (Convert, Open in Excel and Cancel). I chose Open in Excel and workbook opened in Excel 365 desktop client without any error.

I even tested by opening the workbook from OneDrive sync client and it opened successfully, and I was able to view the workbook’s content.

Since you are getting the issue opening .xls workbook in Excel online and from sync client, I would suggest you try the following suggestion to check the outcome:

1.For test purpose, create a new workbook (.xls) and store it in OneDrive for business, check if you can open the new workbook in cloud.

2.Right-click OneDrive icon, click Settings>Office tab, check if Use Office 2016 to sync Office files that I open box is checked or not.

I appreciate your patience and understanding.

Best Regards

Waqas Muhammad

Answer 3

Hi ArbelYellin,

I apologize for all the trouble it has caused and sorry about your time.

As per your description, we understand your Excel file format XLS not opening in Office 365.

Check if you can open XLS file via go *to File>Open>Browse>*Navigate to the XLS file that won’t open in Excel 365.

Also, please try the following steps and see if it works for you.

1. Make sure you’ve updated Office to the latest version that some issues can be resolved with such method.
2. Try open your Excel insafe mode which allow you to safely use it when it has encountered certain problems.
3. Customer canperform a clean boot in Windowsto determine whether a background program is interfering with Office program.

If the issue still persists, could you please provide some information for us to better understand.

1. What’s your Excel version? Open Excel> File > Account > Production Information and share a screenshot of it.  (Please mask your private information.)
2. Does the issue happens on all files or a specific one?

I appreciate your patience and understanding.

Best Regards

Waqas Muhammad

Answer 4

You've hit most of the "traditional" trouble shooting steps.

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As a temp work around, have you tried opening the application alone. The using the File open dialog to open the files. Hopefully that will get you working again.

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Have you tried starting both Excel and Windows (in separate steps) in "Save mode". There may be a bug in an Office / Excel addin or even a 3rd party Windows tool that is causing the problem.

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When you mentioned you didn't want to do registry editing to do a "full" Office uninstall, that is the last resort. MS actually provides a utility you can download and run to do a "full" office uninstall. It is "Method 2" in this tip:

Uninstall Office 365 – 2007

https://support.office.com/en-us/article/uninstall-office-from-a-pc-9dd49b83-264a-477a-8fcc-2fdf5dbf61d8?ui=en-US&rs=en-US&ad=US

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Method 1: Uninstall from Control Panel (or Settings dialog)

Method 2: Completely uninstall Office with the uninstall support tool (SetupProd_OffScrub.exe Which installs S.A.R.A.)

Method 3: Remove manually (Registry Hack)

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The Method 1, “Normal uninstall”, is designed with the assumption that you will be re-installing Office. It does NOT delete everything. It leaves configuration files like NORMAL.DOTM and other templates etc. It also leaves configuration Registry entries. Normally these “carry-overs” are safe. But if method 1 didn’t fix your problem, they may be the cause.

Note:Method 1 includes links to Office version specific re-install instructions

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Method 2 (and 3) are intended to completely wipe Office from your computer

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This captures shows a computer with 2 Office installations, 365 and 2016 Pro Plus (that needs activation to work)

Office File Account - 365 activated Pro Plus 2016 not activated.jpg

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Method 2: Downloaded tool (SetupProd_OffScrub.exe Which installs S.A.R.A.)

So if Method 1 doesn’t fix your problem, try Method 2. Method 2 does a more thorough job that the “normal” uninstall (aka Method 1). It deletes “everything” associated with Office  except your personal (document, spreadsheet etc) files created using Office

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  *  Boot the computer.

  *  After the restart go to **http://office.com/myaccount to re-install Office 365**.

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https://www.thewindowsclub.com/ways-to-uninstall-microsoft-office-2007 -

This page lists 7 ways to Uninstall Office. A couple are no longer valid (#3 and #6), but most are.

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NOTE:   BEFORE you start the uninstall,

If you have an Office 365 bundle or Office 2016 / 2019, make sure you can access the MyAccount page so you can reinstall.

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