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

I just spent an hour with MS Tech Support and got nowhere. The tech insisted it was a network issue and not an excel issue. Most of the excel files I use are saved on a network server.

I replicated the issue on my desktop but was not able to replicate the issue using the server computer therefore he erroneously concluded it was the network. I most strenuously object. This is an excel issue. A big issue.

I am using Windows 7 and Office 10. I was using Office 32 bit but changed to 64 bit when it was suggested it might be the problem. I never had this issue on my old slow as Christmas PC using Windows 98 and Office 2003.

The funny thing is the tech suggested the spreadsheets I use are too big. I beg to differ. While not small if excel can’t perform on a spreadsheet with 15k rows and 30 columns with no big complex formulas then I want to go back to 2003. I now have 3x the computing power on this computer.

I tried to sort by 3 or 4 columns and he said that was too much. How come for the last 5 years I have been able to sort by 3 columns no problem and up until a couple of weeks ago I could sort by 4 or 5 or 6 columns with no problem. Now if you try and sort by multiple columns, delete a column, add a column you get the message:

The operation you are about to perform affects a large number of cells and may take a significant amount of time to complete. Are you sure you want to continue?

Then:

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

After you get the message the spreadsheet is basically unworkable. I haven’t found anything you can do with it., If you try and save it, you cant. If you try and go to the file tab it won’t. You have to X out of it unsaved and reopen. Sometimes when you reopen it will work again for a while, then the same thing starts happening.

Anyone have any real solutions? I have already cleaned up my temporary files, raised the amount of virtual memory, deleted files in the XLStart folder etc…all the knee jerk "I don’t really know whats going on" solutions. Has anyone had this problem and gotten it fixed? Any real solutions out there??

I agree with everyone. MS is not listening and understanding this is a huge issue. I spent an hour with a MS Tech last night who told me it had to do with my spreadsheet being on a network. I assured him it wasn't, but he wouldn't listen. I couldn't not replicate it on my server computer while we were on the phone, but it has cropped up again today while using my server computer.

It doesn't happen every time, but when it does with a specific spreadsheet, yo0u cant use it again and you cant save it. You have to close it out and then reopen and sometimes it works for awhile and sometimes it doesn't.

I usually starts when I try and sort multiple columns (3-4). After that you cant really do anything with the spreadsheet unless you close it and reopen. He suggested it was too large to sort multiple columns. I say garbage. It worked just fine with my old PC with 1/3 the computing power using 2003.

I am using Windows 7 and Office 10. I was using 32 bit and switched to 64 to see if that was the issue and it didn't help.

While my spreadsheets are large, 15k rows and 30 or so columns maybe 10K KB they aren't extremely large. And they are smaller now using 10 then when I was using 2003 and had no problems at all.

I have done all the BS "fixes" everyone has suggested and had no long term luck. I will go to my grave saying it is a MS problem.

If anyone has any additional suggestions please let me know.

The answers offered by Microsoft so far are not getting at the root of the problem.  I am on Windows 7 and Office 2010.  I have had the same laptop/memory for 1.5 years and have only had this problem for about 6 months.  It is not realistic for many of us to re-install windows and/or Excel.  Some of us work at big companies where pc build out is centrally managed.

I have made an additional discovery since the problem started happening:

When I get the message, I can open another instance of Excel (without closing the first) and then open new files or outlook attachments.  For this reason, I am finding that I now often have two instances of Excel running just so that I can do the same work I have always done without getting these errors.

The "fix" suggested by Microsoft seems to be an excuse - - similar to the first troubleshooting step we would get from a technical support helpdesk to reboot.  I say this because my work habits have not changed.  Thus, system resources are not being utilized in any different manner.  It does not matter how big the files are or how many other applications are open.

Something is WRONG and I think some of the other threads suggesting it may have something to do with an update are probably right.