Excel 2000 Won't open spreadsheets

[anorthcote]

Hi,

I have a very frustrating problem that I need to get fixed.

We have several spreadsheets, created using a data extract from our payroll system in Excel 8.0 format, that won't open in Excel 2000.

What happens is that it looks like it is opening but all we get is the blank grey screen (as if excel has no sheets open). Interestingly, the title bar of excel does show the file name.

I need to find a way of opening these files. I have other users, using the same version of Excel, who can open the files but I need to get the faulty ones fixed.

Any ideas?????

 

[KenWright]

With one of these files 'open' such that you see it's name in the title bar, try Window / Arrange / Tiled and see if anything happens.

Regards
Ken...........

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[anorthcote]

All of the window menu is shaded out as if nothing is open!!!

 

[KenWright]

Is it just that version of Excel that ha s a problem? Does anyone else have a copy of Excel 2000 and if so does it behave the same if they try and open the same files.

There used to be issue with Excel 200 where the toolbar customisation file would become corrupted, and cause various problems. Might be worth finding and deleting that to see if it heps (*.xlb file).

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It's easier to beg forgiveness than ask permission
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[Fenrirshowl]

Workbook open, yet no sheets?
Have you tried the Window menu, unhide option?
(This outfoxed me a couple of months ago.)

Fen

 

[KenWright]

All of the window menu is shaded out as if nothing is open!!!

Regards
Ken..........

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It's easier to beg forgiveness than ask permission
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[Fenrirshowl]

Ah yes, my sight is slowly returning......

 

[anorthcote]

Ok, this is happening on at least two machines, both running office 2000 sbe.

One of the machines is a newly installed machine, brand new. The users old machine, also running office 2000 sbe, worked fine!!??

The way around it that I have found is for me to open the file, under office 2003, tile the windows, re-maximize it and save it again.

I shouldn't have to do that. I need to find out why office 2000 is doing this to me.

Pleeeeese somebody help me!!!!!

 

[anorthcote]

Ok, I have found a solution, I thought I'd share it with you...

It is the service packs that are responsible. The machine was patched up to Office 2000 SBE SR-3. Once I removed Office and re-installed it without any Service Packs the problem went away.

I could spend time tracking down which service pack is responsible, 1, 2 or 3, but life is too short.

I know what you will tell me; the service packs correct numerous errors and patch vunerabilities. So yes, I will probably look at installing whichever service packs don't cause me problems. But, for now, all is good.

Thank you all for your help and advice.

Andrew