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Hi, I'm having a problem opening my xls file. I'm getting a message saying the file is corrupt and the size is only showing as a few bytes. Before the file size was over 200MB. Trying to see what happened and if my file can be recovered...
Solved by A. C. in 60 mins
This is the chat thread from the real Excelchat help session. It contains no private user
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User
21/08/2018 - 10:18
Hello?
Excelchat Expert
21/08/2018 - 10:18
Welcome, Thanks for choosing Got It Pro-Excel.
User
21/08/2018 - 10:18
Is this a real person?
Excelchat Expert
21/08/2018 - 10:19
Yeah, it is.
User
21/08/2018 - 10:19
Ok
Excelchat Expert
21/08/2018 - 10:19
When last did you open the file with no problems?
User
21/08/2018 - 10:19
It's been opened for a long time. Maybe a few days.
User
21/08/2018 - 10:20
But I closed it out yesterday. When I tried to re-open it says it's corrupted.
Excelchat Expert
21/08/2018 - 10:20
Was yesterday when you closed it okay?
User
21/08/2018 - 10:20
Yes
Excelchat Expert
21/08/2018 - 10:21
Have you transferred it across computers?
User
21/08/2018 - 10:21
No, nothing like that.
Excelchat Expert
21/08/2018 - 10:22
And have you added any new program, plugin or extension to your computer?
User
21/08/2018 - 10:22
Not that I'm aware of.
Excelchat Expert
21/08/2018 - 10:22
Is it Windows or Mac?
User
21/08/2018 - 10:22
Windows
Excelchat Expert
21/08/2018 - 10:23
Is it protected?
User
21/08/2018 - 10:23
What do you mean?
Excelchat Expert
21/08/2018 - 10:23
Does it have any passwords, modification, editing, opening...etc
User
21/08/2018 - 10:24
No
Excelchat Expert
21/08/2018 - 10:24
Finally, does it have macros or vba code?
User
21/08/2018 - 10:24
Yes it does
Excelchat Expert
21/08/2018 - 10:25
Okay.
Excelchat Expert
21/08/2018 - 10:25
STEP 1
Excelchat Expert
21/08/2018 - 10:25
Open Excel program
Excelchat Expert
21/08/2018 - 10:25
STEP 2
Excelchat Expert
21/08/2018 - 10:25
Click File > Open.
Excelchat Expert
21/08/2018 - 10:25
STEP 3
Excelchat Expert
21/08/2018 - 10:26
Click the location and folder that contains the corrupted workbook.
Excelchat Expert
21/08/2018 - 10:26
STEP 4
Excelchat Expert
21/08/2018 - 10:26
In the Open dialog box, select the corrupted workbook.
Excelchat Expert
21/08/2018 - 10:26
STEP 5
Excelchat Expert
21/08/2018 - 10:26
Click the arrow next to the Open button, and then click Open and Repair.
Excelchat Expert
21/08/2018 - 10:27
Open and Repair:
[Uploaded an Excel file]
User
21/08/2018 - 10:27
I tried that already
User
21/08/2018 - 10:27
I got this message:
Excelchat Expert
21/08/2018 - 10:27
Okay.
User
21/08/2018 - 10:27
Guess you can't paste here
User
21/08/2018 - 10:27
But it said "cannot open file because the file format or file extension is not valid...
User
21/08/2018 - 10:28
Verify that the file has not been corrupted and that the file extension matches the format of the file.
User
21/08/2018 - 10:29
Any other ideas?
Excelchat Expert
21/08/2018 - 10:30
What is the file extension of your file?
User
21/08/2018 - 10:30
.xlsm
Excelchat Expert
21/08/2018 - 10:31
Okay. When did you last made changes?
User
21/08/2018 - 10:31
Yesterday
Excelchat Expert
21/08/2018 - 10:32
Okay.
Excelchat Expert
21/08/2018 - 10:32
Have you tried to Revert the workbook to the last saved version
User
21/08/2018 - 10:33
No, how do you do that?
User
21/08/2018 - 10:33
I think it saved fine before closing though.
Excelchat Expert
21/08/2018 - 10:33
Okay.
Excelchat Expert
21/08/2018 - 10:34
Click File > New.
Excelchat Expert
21/08/2018 - 10:34
Under New, click Blank workbook.
Excelchat Expert
21/08/2018 - 10:34
Click File > Options.
Excelchat Expert
21/08/2018 - 10:34
In the Formulas category, under Calculation options, pick Manual, and then click OK.
Excelchat Expert
21/08/2018 - 10:35
Click File > Open.
Excelchat Expert
21/08/2018 - 10:35
Go to the folder that contains the corrupted workbook.
Excelchat Expert
21/08/2018 - 10:35
Right-click the file name of the corrupted workbook, click Copy, and then click Cancel.
Excelchat Expert
21/08/2018 - 10:36
Click File > New.
Excelchat Expert
21/08/2018 - 10:36
Under New, click Blank workbook.
Excelchat Expert
21/08/2018 - 10:36
In cell A1 of the new workbook, type =File Name!A1, where File Name is the name of the corrupted workbook that you copied in step 3, and then press Enter.
Excelchat Expert
21/08/2018 - 10:37
Note: You have to enter only the name of the workbook—you don’t have to type the file name extension.
Excelchat Expert
21/08/2018 - 10:37
If the Update Values dialog box appears, select the corrupted workbook, and then click OK.
Excelchat Expert
21/08/2018 - 10:37
If the Select Sheet dialog box appears, select the appropriate sheet, and then click OK.
User
21/08/2018 - 10:39
I got a message saying "excel cannot update one of more links in this workbook...
User
21/08/2018 - 10:39
To update the links, open all the link source files (click edit links on the data tab). To be sure all calculations are updated, press F9
Excelchat Expert
21/08/2018 - 10:41
Was it linked to other workbooks?
User
21/08/2018 - 10:41
No
User
21/08/2018 - 10:42
The file size is only showing a few bytes. Do you think this is right?
User
21/08/2018 - 10:42
If so, it looks like all my data is gone!
User
21/08/2018 - 10:43
The file size should be 200MB
Excelchat Expert
21/08/2018 - 10:43
It can show that but other data hidden.
Excelchat Expert
21/08/2018 - 10:43
Let us try also this other procedure:
Excelchat Expert
21/08/2018 - 10:43
Create a new Excel file with the same name of your lost Excel file or find your present Excel file;
User
21/08/2018 - 10:43
Ok
Excelchat Expert
21/08/2018 - 10:44
Right-click on the Excel file and select Properties;
Excelchat Expert
21/08/2018 - 10:44
Go to Previous Versions, find and select the latest version or the right version before Excel crashes, deleted or saved, click Restore.
User
21/08/2018 - 10:45
There are no previous versions showing up :(
Excelchat Expert
21/08/2018 - 10:46
Did you save it with the exact file name and extension?
User
21/08/2018 - 10:47
I just went into the properties of the current file
User
21/08/2018 - 10:47
I didn't create a new one
Excelchat Expert
21/08/2018 - 10:48
Create a new one, with the same name.
Excelchat Expert
21/08/2018 - 10:48
And file extension.
User
21/08/2018 - 10:48
In a different folder?
Excelchat Expert
21/08/2018 - 10:49
Yeah
User
21/08/2018 - 10:49
Delete the other one?
Excelchat Expert
21/08/2018 - 10:49
NO!
User
21/08/2018 - 10:49
How can I create a file with the same name then?
User
21/08/2018 - 10:50
Move the other one to a different folder?
Excelchat Expert
21/08/2018 - 10:50
In another folder.
User
21/08/2018 - 10:51
Ok
User
21/08/2018 - 10:51
Still no previous versions available
Excelchat Expert
21/08/2018 - 10:52
Copy your original to a new folder.
Excelchat Expert
21/08/2018 - 10:52
An then override it with the new one which you have created.
Excelchat Expert
21/08/2018 - 10:53
Or you can equally replace it in the same folder in which the original file is.
User
21/08/2018 - 10:53
Ok
User
21/08/2018 - 10:54
Still no previous versions
Excelchat Expert
21/08/2018 - 10:54
You are not doing it correctly.
User
21/08/2018 - 10:55
I don't have system protection turned on
Excelchat Expert
21/08/2018 - 10:55
create a file with the same name as the original file and save it in the same folder in which it is.
User
21/08/2018 - 10:55
So I don't think that'll work
Excelchat Expert
21/08/2018 - 10:55
You will be prompted to replace the original one.
Excelchat Expert
21/08/2018 - 10:56
Once prompted, replace the original one.
Excelchat Expert
21/08/2018 - 10:56
And then Right-click on the Excel file and select Properties;
Excelchat Expert
21/08/2018 - 10:57
Go to Previous Versions, find and select the latest version or the right version before Excel crashes, deleted or saved, click Restore.
Excelchat Expert
21/08/2018 - 10:57
At least it should give you a list of some of the previous versions.
User
21/08/2018 - 10:57
No
User
21/08/2018 - 10:58
I think it's because I don't have system protection turned on...
Excelchat Expert
21/08/2018 - 10:58
There is no list?
User
21/08/2018 - 10:58
So no backups were saved
Excelchat Expert
21/08/2018 - 10:58
But have you replaced it first?
User
21/08/2018 - 10:59
Yes
User
21/08/2018 - 11:03
Is it possible to do a system restore to revert back to a previous version?
Excelchat Expert
21/08/2018 - 11:04
Yeah, that can help.
User
21/08/2018 - 11:05
But system restore doesn't change files?
User
21/08/2018 - 11:05
Only settings changes and software installs and such?
Excelchat Expert
21/08/2018 - 11:06
it could be it is some virus has infected your file.
User
21/08/2018 - 11:06
No I'm sure that's not the case
Excelchat Expert
21/08/2018 - 11:06
So doing away the virus, by doing the system restore, can make it to be opened again.
User
21/08/2018 - 11:07
100% sure it's not a virus
User
21/08/2018 - 11:12
Dang
User
21/08/2018 - 11:12
I think I'm screwed :((
Excelchat Expert
21/08/2018 - 11:14
Click on File > Options.
Excelchat Expert
21/08/2018 - 11:14
Select Trust Center > Trust center settings.
Excelchat Expert
21/08/2018 - 11:14
Select Protected view.
Excelchat Expert
21/08/2018 - 11:15
Uncheck all the options under Protected View > OK.
Excelchat Expert
21/08/2018 - 11:15
Restart Excel and open the file again.
Excelchat Expert
21/08/2018 - 11:16
Most corrupted files get opened by the procedures we have tried.
User
21/08/2018 - 11:17
I think I know what happened
User
21/08/2018 - 11:17
I think I saved over the file accidently
Excelchat Expert
21/08/2018 - 11:17
What is it?
User
21/08/2018 - 11:17
Yes, that is what happened
User
21/08/2018 - 11:17
I tried to open the file with notepad and I can see that it opens there
Excelchat Expert
21/08/2018 - 11:17
That should have been found in the previous versions.
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