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

Anonymous

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.

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

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.

0 comments

Answer accepted by question author

Anonymous

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.

0 comments

139 additional answers

Anonymous

2014-02-07T10:45:39+00:00

This error causes when we used more than 8 dimensions to the report while creating PivotTable in Excel. Please check if you have ever used it. You can fixed this issue by applying hotflix tool. You can get details about this solution here http://support.iyogi.com/microsoft/microsoft-excel/how-to-fix-the-error-excel-cannot-complete-this-task-with-available-resources-choose-less-data-or-close-other-applications.html
Was this answer helpful?

0 comments No comments
Anonymous

2014-01-24T17:47:50+00:00

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

Microsoft - this problem has now been around for YEARS!!!

The workaround works, but what a PAIN! It effectively means "turn off useful functions"

Thank you for NOTHING, Microsoft.

Since BillG gave up running the company, it is going to the dogs.
Was this answer helpful?

0 comments No comments
Anonymous

2013-12-02T17:28:11+00:00

Here is another fix that I found that has worked and I think I know why this issue happens.

To fix this issue you will need to save the file to xls. 2003 version. Start to begin working on that version to see if you get the issue again. If you do then save file again back to xlsx. format.

I think this issue is a compatibility issue between xls. and xlsx. The file you are working on could have been created originally as an xls file or has a tab copied over from an xls file. By reverting back to xls file format can solve the problem.
Was this answer helpful?

0 comments No comments