Error when launching Excle

[George Lynch]

I was working on a user's corrupted Excel file yesterday for much of the
afternoon. After crashing and relaunching Excel several times, I suddenly
started getting the following error upon launching Excel:

0118A400: file format is not valid.

I have tried the following to get rid of this message, but nothing has worked:

1. Disabled all add-ins;
2. Deleted the Excel registry keys in both local machine and current user
so Excel would have to be rebuilt.
3. Removed everything from the XLSTART folder.

None of these things worked. When I launch Excel with no add-ins, the error
appears immediately after the splash screen.

However, when I launch Excel in safe mode, the error does not appear.

I work in a secure installation where I cannot reinstall Excel. Instead I
would have to reinstall the entire Office package, as all installations are
done through scripts.

Does anyone have any ideas other than reinstalling Office for me?

Thanks in advance...

 

[Jan Karel Pieterse]

Hi George,

None of these things worked. When I launch Excel with no add-ins, the error
appears immediately after the splash screen.

However, when I launch Excel in safe mode, the error does not appear.

Start Excel in safe mode and check if there is anything in Tools, options,
general, alternate startup file location.

Regards,

Jan Karel Pieterse
Excel MVP
http://www.jkp-ads.com

 

[George Lynch]

Hi Jan Karel,

Thanks for your reply. It turns out that your suggestion led to the answer.
I did what you suggested, but there wasn't anything showing in that field in
the Options dialog.

So, going with the idea you gave me, I opened the Explorer file manager and
navigated to the XLStart folder under my profile, and voila! there was the
file. Once I deleted it, no more error. I will never know it got to be
there, but I'm glad it's gone.

Let me take a moment to thank you for all the help you've given over the
years (and a lot of it went to me). I have used your suggestions, your
comments, your ideas and your utilities to great advantage and I do want to
thank you sincerely.

I always take care to give you the credit wherever appropriate.

Keep up the great work...

And thanks again.

 

[Jan Karel Pieterse]

Hi George,

Let me take a moment to thank you for all the help you've given over the
years (and a lot of it went to me). I have used your suggestions, your
comments, your ideas and your utilities to great advantage and I do want to
thank you sincerely.

You're very welcome indeed!

Regards,

Jan Karel Pieterse
Excel MVP
http://www.jkp-ads.com