excel 2013 can't open old files

Hello,

As per the description provided, you’re having trouble opening Excel files created in 2007 version in Excel 2013.

I would require few details about the issue in order to assist you better.

1. What exactly happens when you try to open the Excel 2007 files in 2013 version?
2. Do you get any error message?
3. Does the issue occur only with Excel or with other Office 2013 applications as well?

There might also be an issue with the file association not set to Excel application.

Try the steps below to correct the file association and check.

1.  Right click on any of the Excel file which has problem.

2.    Select ‘Open With’ from the pop-up menu.

3.    Click Choose default Program.

4.    Select Microsoft Excel in the Programs box.

5.    Check ‘Always use the selected program to open this kind of file’.

6.    Click ok and try to open the file.

You may also refer the link below for more information about setting a default program for a file type:

http://windows.microsoft.com/en-US/windows7/Change-the-program-that-opens-a-type-of-file

Hope the information provided is helpful.

If you still face an issue, do reply and we are happy to assist.

Thank You.

To confirm, you have the local install of Office 2013, not Office 365?

I agree with Nayana, it sounds like you have a problem with Windows Default File Associations, for XLS files.

Here some additional ways of setting file associations if Nayana's approach does not work (due to various circumstances)

Re-register the application

There are several different ways you can reset the proper file associations. Word itself provides a way to do it. Open a command prompt window and, at the command line, enter the following:

winword /r

This invokes part of the installation process. It is good for all apps in the 2010 Office bundle. Word will reregister itself back in Windows. In the process, it resets the file associations for the files it uses, such as DOC and DOT files. You can close the command prompt window and double-click on a document; Word should start right up.

Alternate Re-register the application

(Note: You may have to adjust the path to the EXE to match your installation. Verify the path before running the command.)

Close the app. Open the Run Window: <WIN > R, use the following command (Modify the Path to match your specific installation):

"C:\Program Files\Microsoft Office\Office\winword.exe" /unregserver

The quotes are necessary, but you may need to change the path so it reflects the location of the winword.exe file on your system. (You can use Windows’ Search tool to locate the path to the winword.exe file.) The /unregserver switch “unhooks” all the references to Word in the Windows Registry.

You should then, immediately, use the following command:

"C:\Program Files\Microsoft Office\Office\winword.exe" /regserver

This command causes Word to rewrite all its Registry keys and to reassociate itself with document and template files. Now you can double-click a document file and see if Windows starts Word and opens the document.

---

Re Register  re-register – regserver batch file

Make sure the path is correct for your installation. I have put these files into a BAT file on my desktop so I can run it as needed.

"C:\Program Files\Microsoft Office 2010\Office14\winword.exe" /unregserver

"C:\Program Files\Microsoft Office 2010\Office14\winword.exe" /regserver

Pause

"C:\Program Files\Microsoft Office 2010\Office14\excel.exe" /unregserver

"C:\Program Files\Microsoft Office 2010\Office14\excel.exe" /regserver

Pause

---

Quick Determine Office applications path

·        open Excel

·        open the Visual Basic Editor (aka VBE)

·        open the Immediate window, Ctrl-g (also in the View menu)

·        type or paste the following in the Immediate window

?application.path

·        With the cursor at the end of the line, ie after "path", hit Enter

---

Set Click to Run (CTR) to be Default File Association

·        Open Windows Explorer and navigate to the file.

·        Right click the file (i.e. doc) and select Properties.

·        Now click on the general tab and select open with change.

·        Change ''Microsoft Office 2010 Component'' to "Microsoft Office Client Virtualization Handler".

If that doesn't work, try:

This page has instructions, with pictures, on how to use builtin windows tools to fix file associations:

http://www.worldstart.com/how-to-set-defaults-successfully/print/

If that doesn't work, try:

There is a freeware tool called  Default Programs Editor. It brings many of the default settings into one place: http://defaultprogramseditor.com/

Need to associate the file type with program:

In Win7:

1. Right-click the file,
2. Select "Open With"   select [Your Program Here]
3. Check always use this program.

In Windows XP:

1. Locate the file as you have described above
2. Right click the file
3. Select Open with from the pop-up menu
4. Click Choose default program…
5. Select Excel in the Recommended Programs box
6. Check Always use the selected program to open this kind of file
7. Click on OK.

Alternate method of associating file type with program:

·        Click Start

·        type cmd in the run dialog box then press ok.

·        On the command prompt line type "control panel" without the quotation marks.

·        In control panel > folder options > file types > new (button) in the new window click advanced.

·        In the file extension dialog box type the file extension to fix, ie: exe.

·        In the drop down menu locate and select application > click ok.

Sometimes one of these works when you're having trouble with double clicking on the file in windows explorer:

(xl2003 menus) - Tools|Options|General|Uncheck "Ignore other applications"

(xl2007) Office Button|Excel Options|Advanced|General|Uncheck "Ignore other applications that use DDE"

If that doesn't work, try:

---

Office 2010 in Win 7 – Remove Win7 “Compatibility” mode

A solution is:

·        Start

·        all programs

·        Microsoft office (this gives the list of office applications)

·        Right click on excel

·        select 'properties'

·        select the compatibility tab

·        uncheck the ' Run this program in compatibility for:' 'windows XP service pack 3'

My excel files now open fine.

If that doesn't work, try:

Change File Associations in Vista / Win 7

http://windows.microsoft.com/en-us/windows7/Change-which-programs-Windows-uses-by-default

If that doesn't work, try:

Discover hidden features in the Win7 Default Programs tool

http://www.techrepublic.com/blog/window-on-windows/discover-hidden-features-in-the-windows-7-default-programs-tool/5717

Fix File Association Error When Launching Windows Explorer in Win7

http://www.winhelponline.com/blog/fix-file-association-error-explorer-in-windows-7/

Add Programs to OPEN WITH list

http://www.worldstart.com/adding-open-with-to-the-right-click-menu/print/

---

How to Set Defaults Successfully

http://www.worldstart.com/how-to-set-defaults-successfully/print/

Win7 Set Default and Use Open With & Always Open With Settings in Pictures-

http://notebooks.com/2011/02/08/how-to-set-default-programs-and-use-open-with-and-always-open-with-settings/

If that doesn't work, try:

---

Restore .EXE File Association in Win7/Vista After Incorrectly Associating It With Another Program

http://www.winhelponline.com/blog/restore-exe-file-asso-windows-7-vista-incorrectly-associated/

---

I am also experiencing a problem opening older excel files with Excel 2013.

I have installed Office 2013 64bit on Windows 7 Pro 64bit.

Every file from older versions that I open with either Word or Excel gives me an error message "The file is corrupt and cannot be opened".

It is NOT a problem with default program association. It is also NOT a problem with the file itself.

The file opens up perfectly with Office 2010 I have on another computer.

With Word 2013 I found a way to open files by Right Click and use Edit option instead of Open.

This opens up the files and I can save them in 2013 format.

Excel does not provide Edit option, hence every time i try to open the file it fails.

If anyone has any ideas, i will appreciate if you shared them with me.

Thanks.

Hm, that is an interesting new twist.

I don't have any suggested fixes yet. Could you please use the PSR to capture your various successful and failing attempts to access these files.  Trying to get you to explain in enough detail what you are doing that works and does not work would be too much effort.  The PSR graphically and textually captures your actions, making it MUCH easier for us to be "on the same page" as you.  Use the "add comment" feature in the PSR to add explicit descriptions of what you are doing.  Then you can upload the PSR capture to skydrive and post a link to it back here.

Win7 & Win8 Problem Steps Recorder - PSR

http://windows.microsoft.com/en-CA/windows7/How-do-I-use-Problem-Steps-Recorder

---

http://www.maximumpc.com/article/how-tos/how\_use\_windows\_7\_problem\_steps\_recorder\_make\_easy\_pc\_guides 

---

http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/dd371782%28v=vs.85%29.aspx

---

http://www.7tutorials.com/easy-troubleshooting-and-problem-solving-problem-steps-recorder 

---

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z6EgLm3-XcQ

---

http://blogs.msdn.com/b/patricka/archive/2010/01/04/using-the-secret-windows-7-problem-step-recorder-to-create-step-by-step-screenshot-documents.aspx

Please use the Problem Steps Recorder to capture what you are doing so we have more details to work with. Either copy and paste the recorded steps into the forum or upload the zip file to Skydrive and give us a link to the zip file

---

Users and computer ‘geeks” often don’t speak the same language, interpreting things differently based on their experience. This short article has 3 examples of fundamental misunderstandings http://www.infoworld.com/t/it-jobs/say-what-three-unfortunate-users-in-need-of-tech-translator-212321  When you read it, if you are posting a question you will probably scratch your head at the answers, while computer people will be slapping their forehead and laughing out loud. Using PSR is one way to bridge that communication breakdown.

---

Solving problems unique to a machine can be an arduous task for both the end-user and the help desk. That’s why Win7 introduces the Problem Steps Recorder, a screen-capture tool that allows the end-user to record the problems they’re having step-by-step. If the problem is repeatable, the recorder will capture what you do in text form.

---

It’s as simple as hitting “record” then adding in comments as needed. A HTML-based file is converted to a .ZIP folder, which is easily passed on to the help desk.  The program is accessible from the Control Panel under “Record steps to reproduce a problem” or run psr.exe from Explorer.

---

Upload result to a file share site like skydrive and post the link back here so we can look at it too.

****************

If you wish, I can post an example of a case where a PSR provided the clue to a totally unexpected answer (based on the initial description).

Was a fix ever found? I have the same problem. There are old excel files as attachments in e-mails. I have saved files in my documents and I have tried to open directly from e-mail. Excel opens and tries to open the file but gets to about 9% to 20% and then stops trying to load file. When I "X" out of the screen, it says that the file is corrupt.