Can't open 2003 Excel Files in Excel 2007?

[padron20]

I'm not sure if it because the files are 2003 or not? When I try to open them an error message appears stating, "...the file you are trying to open is in a different format than specified by the file extension. Verify file is not corrupted and is from a trusted source..." These are my files. The interesting thing is that if I try to open the same file that I have saved within the last year (before I got 2007) then I can do it? That is, I have a cache folder of files that I go get to do calculations then save in a new job folder. The ones in the new job folder will open (also 2003), but the ones in the original cache will not? I would truly appreciate any suggestions. Thank you.

 

[Lee]

Have you attempted to set them up in 'Compatibility Mode." Not sure if this will help, just hoping it will. I have been testing the new Microsoft Office 2010 Beta 64 bit, and have yet to have this problem, and like you I have a great deal of files in 2003 (never used 2007)'

I think you can still download MS Office 2010 beta from Microsoft's download site. Good Luck.

BTW, Welcome To The Seven Forums.

 

[padron20]

Lee: Thank you for responding. I am not sure how I would set up this "compatibility mode" you mention. For other "newer" files (ones I've used in the past year) there is no problem. Also there are no problems with Word files (old or recently used) at all. I am a little frustrated to say the least. Thanks again.

 

[clunkfish]

I'm not sure if it because the files are 2003 or not? When I try to open them an error message appears stating, "...the file you are trying to open is in a different format than specified by the file extension. Verify file is not corrupted and is from a trusted source..." These are my files. The interesting thing is that if I try to open the same file that I have saved within the last year (before I got 2007) then I can do it? That is, I have a cache folder of files that I go get to do calculations then save in a new job folder. The ones in the new job folder will open (also 2003), but the ones in the original cache will not? I would truly appreciate any suggestions. Thank you.

Excel 2003 files open fine in Excel 2007.

What is the extension on the 2003 files you are trying to open? It should be ".xls".

To make it so you can see the extension (it's hidden by default in Windows), go Control Panel > Folder Options > View, then uncheck the box for "Hide extensions for known file types". Then OK your way back out of that, locate a file that causes the problem and see what the extension is, and please report back

 

[padron20]

Thank you "clunkfish": Yes the file extension is ".xls". I should also mentioned that at the end of the error message I wrote above, it asks if I want to "open the file now" and when I click "yes" a "Text Import Wizard" appears with three steps. I've gone through various combinations of these three steps, but have not had any success with opening the file correctly. Thanks again!

 

[clunkfish]

Hmm - puzzling! If you'd like to email me a file that's giving you trouble to see how it behaves on my Excel 2007, please PM me

 

[ignatzatsonic]

Did you personally create these Excel 2003 files on your system?

Were they created from scratch--or were they originally created by an even earlier version of Excel or possibly imported from some other application such as Word or another spreadsheet program?

Are these complicated Excel files with macros or rather simple Excel files?

Are you attempting to open them by poking them in Explorer?

Or are you opening Excel and then navigating to the file from the Excel menu?

Does this happen in Windows safe mode?

Do you have any reason to believe you are virus and malware free?

I have never seen this issue and have used both Excel 2003 and 2007 extensively.

Lastly: did you look at any of these links?

http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&...hts=&as_occt=any&cr=&as_nlo=&as_nhi=&safe=off

 

[padron20]

ignatzatsonic: These are great questions of course. Before I respond to each I just wanted to reiterate that if I have used the files with XP in the last year or so on my old computer there is no problem, but ones sitting as kind of a "base file" that I use to alter which have not been resaved have problems opening.

Some of these Excel files were modified from older versions of Excel some were from scratch.

I am not quite sure what "poking them in Explorer" means.

Yes I typically open Excel and find the file to open it. I have also openened the folders then double clicked on the file with no success.

Have not tried Windows "safe mode" and am not sure how to run this?

I have thought that maybe these files have a virus, but then why would saving the files in the last year allow me to open them? If the original "base files" were infected, wouldn't the virus also be present in the resaved files?

I was hoping to switch to Windows Vitural PC to use Excel in XP mode, but it appeared that none of the Microsoft products are available in XP mode? Shouldn't I have access to Microsoft products? I may even try to open them on my wifes computer (which uses XP) to see what happens.

Man, I can't tell you how much I appreciate your time. These are work-related files and I really have to figure this out. Thanks again.

 

[ignatzatsonic]

Just ruminating here:

The fact that it happens only to certain files must mean something. Evaluate what is different between those that work and those that don't. Particularly about their pedigree--who created the ones that won't open, when, with what application, etc.

Were the failures ever part of a CSV or other type of import or export?

Did the failures possibly go through a "save as" process at some time during which they were given another extension, purposely or accidentally?

Can you get the failures to any other Excel 2007 system to confirm if it fails there? You can send me one if you want.

There is such a thing as a macro virus. Do at least some of the failures have macros?

Poking in Explorer means just that. Open Windows Explorer, navigate to a failure, and see if it will open when you poke it with a mouse.

Windows safe mode: press F8 when booting, before you see the starting windows screen. F8 can be cranky. Try pressing that key maybe once per second. See if the failures fail when in safe mode.

Pick a random failure. Copy it to another folder. Try to open it from that folder. If you fail, manually change the extension to xlsx and try again.

For that matter, open a new Excel file, give it a name and go to "save as" and notice the "save as type". You can save Excel files with a jillion extensions. How many of the failures may have been saved with some oddball extension at one time or another?

Off the top of my head, pound that google search page in my prior post. You can't be the only person to run into this.

I certainly do think you could use a virtual PC on your Windows 7 box and run XP in that virtual PC. It might work, but would leave unanswered why they fail now.

I have very little experience with setting that up. Did it once 4 months ago for a few hours but don't recall details. You download a couple of apps from MS, install them, and configure. It isn't rocket science. If you wanna do that, search this very site for a tutorial or start or search for another thread "Need help setting up virtual PC to run Excel 2003".

Re virus: I'd say it is quite unlikely, but you never know. Default good app for that type of thing is a combination of Microsoft Security Essentials (or any good anti virus app) plus a scan with Malwarebytes from Malwarebytes.org. Download their free scanner, go to update tab, update, go to scan tab and do a full scan. I think you should also be able to scan random files with a right click.

Google a bit on macro viruses if the failures have macros.

 

[ignatzatsonic]

Further rumination:

Copy a couple of failures to a newly made folder. Copy a couple of successes to the same folder.

Confirm the failures fail and the successes succeed in that folder (both when poked and when attempted from Excel itself).

Then drill down as deeply as possible into file properties of each file via right click in Explorer.

You will see 4 tabs: general, security, details, previous versions.

How does the info on the tabs of the 2 failures differ from the info on the tabs of the two successes?

There is a concept called "taking ownership" that may or may not be relevant. I am not skilled in it. Search this forum or google for it. With a few mouse clicks you can "take ownership" of files and folders. Useful if for whatever reason you don't "have ownership". This isn't a likely issue in your case because the beef you have is file format and extension if the error message is to be believed.

 

[ignatzatsonic]

Last rumination:

Have you totally uninstalled and then reinstalled Excel 2007?

Some chance this is an install/config issue that might be solved by new install of Excel. I'm sure you know there are numerous choices when installing Excel related to tools, options, add-ons, etc. The choices made might play into this if the failed files have a characteristic that only a particular option in the install might resolve.

 

[padron20]

ignatzatsonic: Wow! You're too helpful. I feel like I should be sending you a check or something.

It will take me some time to go through all you have suggested. I am trying to finish two projects tonight and am pressend for time. I've read what you've posted, but it will take me some more time to go through. The reason I state this is that I hope you will check back periodically over the next few days, since I will likely post again.

Finally, I just wanted to mention that all the files (ones that will and won't open) have an "xls" extension?

Thank you again.

 

[ignatzatsonic]

Wish I could easily prioritize my comments, but I don't know enough to do that.

They are certainly more suggestions rather than recommendations. I was just running off at the brain about what I thought is conceivable. An Excel engineer would likely roll his eyes and tell you what's wrong.

Best single idea is that google link for others with the same issue--it may well be a known issue with a 5 second solution completely unrelated to anything I mentioned.

Better copy all original (failed) files to a safe place and leave those copies alone. If you start fiddling with extensions, etc you might ruin the file irretrievably to where even 2003 won't open it--in which case you still have the un-fiddled with copies as a backup.