Unable to read file - URGENT

[Neil Greenough]

Could anybody please help me urgently?

I have just been updating a very important spreadsheet in MS Excel 2000, and
when I have gone to reopen it the background of the spreadsheet unopens
(without columns or rows) and then a message comes up saying "unable to read
file." Anybody got any ideas how to sort this out? I am using Windows 98 SE.

I have opened the file in Notepad and the info appears in there, but it is
all jumbled up (script form maybe?) and I cant make head nor tail of it!

Please please help!

PS: Yes I know i should have made a back up of it, but I aint!

Thanks

 

[HF]

Try Irfan View or Quickview Plus

 

[AlanS]

Is your backup still ok?
Copy the file before trying anything.

Are you using different versions/moving the file to work on it?

There are file repair utilities out there- try a search engine for excel
file repair- the first I found is a pay version, but it says there is demo
version. There will probably be free versions out there if you search, but
if the data is important maybe paying isn't an issue?
http://www.repair.excel-file.com/

Don't forget- backup that file before doing any work on it in case things
get worse. Good luck.

 

[Don Guillett]

Try to open in excel 2002 or Star Office.

 

[David McRitchie]

Hi Neil,
I think Don meant Open Office which is free and is what used to be
Star Office. Star Office is not free. Large companies don't like free
software and want to pay for it in the belief that they get better support.

You will find more information and links on my Backup & Recovery page
http://www.mvps.org/dmcritchie/excel/backup.htm#recovery

Hopefully you did not save the file when using something other than Excel.
---
HTH,
David McRitchie, Microsoft MVP - Excel [site changed Nov. 2001]
My Excel Pages: http://www.mvps.org/dmcritchie/excel/excel.htm
Search Page: http://www.mvps.org/dmcritchie/excel/search.htm