Excel cannot complete the task with available resources. Choose less data or close applications.

Anonymous
2010-05-05T14:25:22+00:00

Excel cannot complete the task with available resources. Choose less data or close applications. the size of the file is 640MB with over 250k records. I have 3.25GB of memory. It takes 5 mintues for the file to open.

Microsoft 365 and Office | Excel | For home | Windows

Locked Question. This question was migrated from the Microsoft Support Community. You can vote on whether it's helpful, but you can't add comments or replies or follow the question.

0 comments
Answer accepted by question author
Anonymous
2011-09-07T15:07:34+00:00

I have been experiencing this problem for months (i.e., Excel cannot complete the task with available resources. Choose less data or close applications).  I am running Windows 7 and Office 2010.  The problem can occur with very small spreadsheets so it has nothing to do with the complexity of the spreadsheets.  After reading the other posts, especially the one from Chuthor, I began to suspect incompatibilities between Excel and other MS software that I've downloaded.

Anyway, I just uninstalled Windows Live Essentials and Microsoft Outlook Social Connector for Live Messenger, which came with an update from Microsoft on 4/7/2011.  This appears to have solved the problem.

Was this answer helpful?

80+ people found this answer helpful.
0 comments
Answer accepted by question author
Anonymous
2012-04-09T18:19:33+00:00

We eventually opened a ticket with Microsoft. Apparently this is on their radar, with no real fix just this work around. The users were experiencing this error daily, and by disabling preview pane in the 3 necessar locations completly fixed the issue. Here is the workaround MS sent me.

Windows 7 is new with Preview/Details panes. These Preview/Details panes contribute to the "Available resources" issues, as well as our "Locked for Editing by another user" issues. We consider turning them off in these 3 locations as a valid test:

Windows:

1. Right click on Start Ribbon.

2. Click Open Windows Explorer.

3. Click Organize | Layout  |

4. Uncheck Details Pane and Preview Pane.

Excel:

1. Click File | Open.

2. Click Organize | Layout  |

3. Uncheck Details Pane and Preview Pane.

Outlook:

1. Open a new e-mail.

2. In the "Include" group, click Attach File.

3. Click Organize | Layout  |

4. Uncheck Details Pane and Preview Pane.

Was this answer helpful?

60+ people found this answer helpful.
0 comments

139 additional answers

Sort by: Most helpful
Most helpful Newest Oldest
  1. Anonymous
    2011-12-21T19:44:15+00:00

    My issue was trying to delete columns on a file that had 5000+ rows with many worksheets and it wouldn't work.  Tried different computers with diff RAM.  This is what solved my issue:

    The file was in 2007 .xlsx, I uninstalled 2007 and installed 2003 with the Compatibility Pack for 2007. I was able to delete columns and saved it.  It saved as .xls.  Opened in 2007/2010 and was able to delete columns now.  Did a Save As xlsx file and the file was now working.

    Was this answer helpful?

    0 comments
  2. Anonymous
    2011-12-15T17:46:08+00:00

    I dont know if you are experiencing this issue still - I am with over 250 systems in our facility, the only work around I have found is = 

    Open Excel 2010

    File/Options/Advanced - Scroll down to General - Look for Ignore Other Applications That Use DDE and check the box.

    The only down fall I have found is you cannot open any files through Excel, you have to open the files them-self - If you have found a cure better then this can you please email me the fix?

    ******@gmail.com

    Was this answer helpful?

    0 comments
  3. Anonymous
    2011-12-05T21:04:23+00:00

    HERE IS A POSSIBLE SOLUTION TO THE PROBLEM.

    I HAD BEEN GETTING THIS ERROR WHILE TRYING TO SAVE THE FILE WITH AUTOMATED MACROS.

    SO THIS ERROR WAS KILLING MY AUTOMATION.

    IF YOU ARE USING FORMULAS THAT REFERENCE HUGH FLAT DATA SETS (for eg. vlookups ) THEN THIS ERROR IS INEVITABLE.

    SOLUTION:

    ADD THIS MACRO TO YOUR MODULE IN VB. AND RUN IT BEFORE YOU TRY TO SAVE THE FILE. THIS MACRO BREAKS ALL THE LINKS/FORMULAS THAT THAT MAY EXIST IN THE WORKBOOK WHICH REDUCES THE SIZE OF THE FILE DRAMATICALLY, THEREBY LETTING YOU SAVE THE FILE BYPASSING THE ERROR.

    I GOT THIS MACRO SCRIPT OFF ONE OF THE FORUMS THAT I CANT REMEMBER. SO I AM NOT CLAIMING TO HAVE WRITTEN THIS. HOPE IT'LL HELP ANYONE WHO HAS FACED THE SAME PROBLEM.

    Sub BreakLink()             'Breaks links to external workbooks; reduce the size of the file

    Dim astrLinks As Variant

    Dim iCtr As Long

    astrLinks = ActiveWorkbook.LinkSources(Type:=xlLinkTypeExcelLinks)

    If IsArray(astrLinks) Then

    For iCtr = LBound(astrLinks) To UBound(astrLinks)

    ActiveWorkbook.BreakLink Name:=astrLinks(iCtr), _

    Type:=xlLinkTypeExcelLinks

    Next iCtr

    End If

    End Sub

    Was this answer helpful?

    0 comments