Excel save error detected

Question

I have Office 365 on OS Catalina. Excel will not save or save as the workbook on HD or external drive. I get error message: "Error detected while saving. Excel may be able to save the file by removing or repairing some features" . I can save smaller files but this workbook is 8.9KB. I have checked for formula errors and there are no images in file. Any one please help.

Answer 1

Thanks so much for the speedy reply.

I have tried saving the file with a different format or extension of Excel to no avail. Same error message and file not saved.

2. I tried saving the file to two different external drives. A hard external and a flash drive. It would not save to either.
3. I also opened another file and was able to re-save it. So I used the move/copy command to add the problem worksheet to the file I had just open and re-saved. However once the problem worksheet was added, the good file would no longer save. The error detection message would appear.
4. The problem file is an existing file which has bee n used and reused for some time. I have used save and saveas many times over the years. When I first did a saveas to update for 2022, the file was fine. I was able update and save it again several times. Then 2 days ago I began getting the error detection not saved message.

I cannot send it to you because it's not saved to the hard drive to be able share. Also, it has a lot of personal and business financial information on it.

Thank in advance for any help you can give.

Blessings,

Rose

Answer 2

Hello RHolt,

Per the description shared, I understand the problem facing at your end and I would like to confirm a few scenarios to help you further:

a. Do you encounter the same error message when you try to save the Excel file in a different Excel format?

b. If you create a new Excel file and copy the content from the problematic file to New file, can you save the new file without any error?

c. Is it a new Excel file or an existing saved file, where you make changes and can't save it further?

If it's an existing file, is it possible to share the sample file with us? You can upload to OneDrive and share the link with us.

Best Regards,

Chitrahaas

Answer 3

Hi

Make sure there are no special characters ANYWHERE in the file path. Slashes, /|}{:"><&*^$%@ are all prohibited in the file names, folder names, and volume names. They are also prohibited as sheet names.

Answer 4

Hello Rose,

Apolgoies for the delay in the response and thanks for sharing the detailed info.

Per the information shared, it seems the problem is with specific Excel worksheet in the Excel worbook and I didn't encounter will similar behavior from the memebers in this community during recent days.

As the file can't be shared due to personal information, we can understand and I request you to try to copy the content manually and paste it in different workbook to see whether you can save the file.

In addition, can I know the problematic file is normal XLSX file or macro enabled file?

Best Regards,

Chitrahaas