Unable to open Excel

[Lisa W.]

Last week I was unable to open excel 2000, including any and all files. I
get the message box that excel encountered a problem and had to close and
then I was given the option to send an error report. After following helpful
instructions for different things, none that worked, I uninstalled disc 1 of
Windows and reinstalled. That didn't work either. Anyone have any idea what
can be wrong?

Any input is greatly appreciated!!

Kind regards,

Lisa W.

 

[Dave Peterson]

You may want to share the helpful things that you tried.

There's no reason for responders to suggest things that you've tried.

 

[Lisa W.]

Sorry,

I tried the repair through the tool bar in excel with the discs in and then
tried putting the disc in and going to the download menu on the disc and do
the repair from there and that didn't work either. I then uninstalled the
whole windows program and reinstall and that didn't work either. It is just
the excel program, the other windows programs work just fine.

Thank you,

Lisa W.

 

[Dave Peterson]

Have you tried opening excel in safe mode?

Close excel (if you got it open)
windows start button|Run
excel /safe

Does that open excel?

 

[Lisa W.]

Dave,

I went to Run and typed in both Excel/Safe and just Excel, with the first I
got an error message stating it didn't know that file. With the latter I
received the same error message about needing to close and then the option of
sending an error message.

I apologize if I sound ignorant, but I wanted to be sure I followed the
instructions carefully.

Thank you,

Lisa W.

 

[Dave Peterson]

there's a space character between "excel" and "/safe"

Dave,

I went to Run and typed in both Excel/Safe and just Excel, with the first I
got an error message stating it didn't know that file. With the latter I
received the same error message about needing to close and then the option of
sending an error message.

I apologize if I sound ignorant, but I wanted to be sure I followed the
instructions carefully.

Thank you,

Lisa W.

 

[Lisa W.]

OK, that worked. Excel opened in safe mode. I know this means something. Do
you think this is a tool bar issue or a registry issue with the start up
process?

Lisa

 

[Dave Peterson]

My first guess is that it's a toolbar issue.

So close excel
use windows search to look for *.xlb
Delete (or move) any that you find.

And remember to look through hidden folders, too. People can have trouble
finding them.

If you can't find your files using windows start button|Search, then you could
use an old DOS command to search and delete/move them

Windows Start button|Run
type:
CMD
(to get to the Command prompt)

C:
(to get to the C: drive--change this to the drive that excel is installed on)

cd\
(to get to the root directory)

dir *.xlb /s

The /s says to search subfolders, too.

Make a note of the locations of the found files.

Then delete/move them.

=======
Then try to restart excel to test.

OK, that worked. Excel opened in safe mode. I know this means something. Do
you think this is a tool bar issue or a registry issue with the start up
process?

Lisa

 

[Lisa W.]

I believe you may be right. I have been searching for the toolbar file and
am coming up empty. Thank you for the instructions. I will give it a try
and get back to you.

Lisa

 

[Lisa W.]

OK, I had to go with DOS and the file that it found is C:\Documents and
Settings\Owner\Application Data\Microsoft\Excel and this is located in the
XLSTART folder. Do I delete it? It kind of scares me, but when I do a
double click or a right click to open it get the error message.

Lisa

I believe you may be right. I have been searching for the toolbar file and
am coming up empty. Thank you for the instructions. I will give it a try
and get back to you.

Lisa

 

[Dave Peterson]

This is where excel stores the changes you've made to the toolbar. If you're
hesitant to delete it, make a note of that location and move it to the desktop.

Then test excel to see if it helped.

If it did help, then delete the file. You won't be able to clean it up
yourself.

If it didn't help, then you can move it back and continue your search.

My toolbar file (in xl2003) is about 13k. But I remember having a toolbar file
that approached 250k. I deleted it and recreated my changes. The file went
down to about that 13k.

After I recreated that *.xlb file, I saved a copy to a nice location. If the
file gets too large (or I just screw it up), I'll close excel and copy the
backup copy to the "real" location.

 

[Lisa W.]

Dave,

That did it!!! I moved it to the desktop and Excel opened right up. I am
going to delete it after I back it up. Thank you so very, very much for
sticking with me through this. I not only have a working Excel program now,
but I have learned a valuable skill.

You have my sincere gratitude.

Kindest regards,

Lisa W.

 

[Diana F.]

I am having the very same problem. I also do not know what to do to get my
excel files to open. Being an accountant, I absolutely need to get to my
files. They worked fine yesterday...

 

[Bob I]

Instead of piping up with a me-too posting, try reading the messages in
the thread that resulted in the issue being fixed.

 

[Diana F.]

I already did that, but these suggestions did not help me. I can open Excel,
both regularly and in safe mode. I just cannot open files without getting
the same error message. Sorry to have offended you, but I've been trying
everything I can think of all day with this.

 

[Diana F.]

Now I'm getting another message after I get the 'have to close' error
message. It says DDE Server Window Excel.exe application error
The instruction at "0x7291b1fa" referenced memory at "0x00000010" the memory
could not be written. Anyone seen this one before? Still cannot open files.

 

[Bob I]

You did not offend me, but the more info you reveal it becomes apparent
"I am having the very same problem." is incorrect. This is why if the
issues don't match yours and the solution is not correct, you should
start your own thread and relate the symptoms along with the version and
service pack level.

 

[Dave Peterson]

If the *.xlb caused the error, don't bother backing it up. Just delete it.
You'll never want to use this corrupted toolbar file.

But do back up the new *.xlb file you create when you customize your toolbar.

Dave,

That did it!!! I moved it to the desktop and Excel opened right up. I am
going to delete it after I back it up. Thank you so very, very much for
sticking with me through this. I not only have a working Excel program now,
but I have learned a valuable skill.

You have my sincere gratitude.

Kindest regards,

Lisa W.

 

[Dave Peterson]

It sounds like Lisa's problem was caused by a corrupted *.xlb file. Did you try
the stuff in that branch of the thread?

Did you try starting excel in safe mode?

Do you have the trouble with all workbooks or just a one (or a few)?

 

[Diana F.]

Yes, I deleted the *.xlb file. Did not help. And I get the same thing when
I try starting excel in safe mode. I have tried opening a bunch of different
files - some bigger than others, but some with little to no data in them. I
also checked Word, and it happens there as well.