Excel 2013 starts up with blank screen when opened from explorer

Anonymous
2013-02-27T17:34:15+00:00

When I double click any Excel file in windows explorer, Excel starts up maximized and I can see the ribbon but the whole grid area where my data should be is blank, no gridlines or row/column headers.   If I "restore down" the Excel window then everything appears as normal.

I sometimes get subsequent Excel crashes.

I also get an Excel crash by clicking on an Excel file in windows explorer, as if to preview it.  The Excel file preview function is not working since I installed Office 2013 Professional.

Microsoft 365 and Office | Excel | For home | Windows

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  1. Anonymous
    2015-03-05T16:42:36+00:00

    A co-worker had the same exact problem of clicking an Excel file name link only to have the file open as a blank sheet, although you could see the data in the cells and print the spreadsheet out.  I went online for a fix and found several resolutions, but the one that fixed the issue was this (for Win 7 users):

    1. Open My Computer or Windows Explorer
    2. Go to ORGANIZE --> Folder and Search Options
    3.  In the Folder Options window, go to the VIEW tab
    4.  Under the View tab, check off the box for Hide extensions for known types
    5.  Click Apply and then OK

    Open the Excel file name link and the spreadsheet will come up as normal.

    Again, I tried a few options, but this is the one that worked for me.

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  2. Anonymous
    2015-02-16T19:58:05+00:00

    Thanks DWHood, your solution to GrahamFreeman's post worked out for me. However because I got a fault message saying they couldn't send the the report I used a resolution I found on support.microsft.com to uncheck the check box that says 'ignore other applications that use DDE in Excel options. After that I rebooted and bingo! My Excel 2013 is working normally

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  3. Anonymous
    2015-02-11T15:33:59+00:00

    Finally!  Thank God this worked.  I have been trying to find solution for over a year!

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  4. Anonymous
    2015-01-13T00:42:41+00:00

    quick repair worked for me, thanks!

    oh, steps, and note I'm 365

    add remove programs

    select office 365

    change

    quick repair

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  5. Anonymous
    2015-01-06T13:37:21+00:00

    Thanks very much for this response.   The problem I am having (very annoying!!) is that any time I single click on a file with the windows preview window on, it instantly opens up a blank excel screen which I have to x out of in order to get back to the preview window. 

    Also, often times I will double click on an excel file and both a blank excel window and the file itself opens.  From my perspective, it's clearly an issue with how the preview is handled.  Either way, it's a MS problem!!!

    Thanks again.

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