excel 2013 can't open old files

Anonymous
2013-03-04T04:59:35+00:00

I got windows office 2013 and installed it on my windows 7 laptop.  I have old office 2007 excel files that I can't open, and some that will only open when I go through the program and search for them. After loading some files I tried to save them in the new format. But even after that I can't open the file. I tried coping and pasting the info, again with no sucess. what can I do to fix this.

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

73 answers

Sort by: Most helpful
Most helpful Newest Oldest
  1. Anonymous
    2015-01-21T02:11:46+00:00

    try this

    Make sure all the Microsoft Office applications are close, then go to Control Panel > **Programs > Uninstall a Program >**on the list select Microsoft Office 2013> look at the top of the line list next to Uninstall and select Change> it will appear small window with two options, select QUICK Repair > follow the procedure. Once is done, close the small window.

    Now try to open any Excel file you want it.

    Hope it works for you.

    This worked perfectly for me! Even Excel 1997 files open with no issues...

    Was this answer helpful?

    0 comments
  2. Anonymous
    2015-01-21T01:32:10+00:00

    I found out a way to open the files, but unfortunately not directly from the Outlook.

    Here are the steps that i performed to open word and excel files:

    1. Right click on the file name
    2. Click Properties
    3. In the tab General look at the very bottom, below the Attributes it displays:

       Security: This file came from another computer and might be blocked to help protect this computer.

    Next to the text there is a button Unblock

    1. Click Unblock, then Apply, and OK
    2. Open the file regularly.

    I'm still searching that rather lengthy and (so far) ineffective comment string on opening older versions of Excel using 2013. Like many here, I too an unable to open older versions - be they 2007 or 2003 - and my difficulty has nothing to do with Outlook. It is NOT a program association problem and everything I have tried up to the point in the commentary has failed to solve the problem. Note that when I follow the above steps associated with a problem file there is no security message below the Attributes area in the General tab and hence to Unblock option.

    Note that I am using the desktop installation which came from Office365 and Windows 7. I do NOT get an error message - Excel opens but does not open a file (i.e., Workbook).

    I'll keep trudging through the commentary to see if eventually one of the proposed solutions bears fruit.

    Was this answer helpful?

    0 comments
  3. Anonymous
    2014-12-11T18:44:57+00:00

    I had this problem. Nothing seemed to work. Then I realised the file names were incorrect. Simply add " .xls" after the file name. No problems now.

    Was this answer helpful?

    0 comments
  4. Anonymous
    2014-10-28T14:59:40+00:00

    WHere is this Run this program in compatibilityoption?

    Was this answer helpful?

    0 comments
  5. Anonymous
    2014-09-17T02:22:24+00:00

    Go to Add/Remove Programs

    Select "Microsoft Office"

    Click on top menu:  "Change"

    Select the "Quick Repair" option.

    Let us know if it worked.

    Yes, I know it sounds too simple, but it worked for me.

    Was this answer helpful?

    0 comments