Edited by unkamunka to make the link “live”
Hurray hurray, 
I got stuck on an Excel feature that apparently has a lot in common with fastening seat belts: they’re there to save you, but in some particular circumstances you’re better off without them…
I renamed an Excel file and its backup copy (the file Excel automatically produces when you have activated this particular file save option). And since then I can’t open it anymore without Excel crashing each time I try to reopen the file. Halfway the loading process of the file Excel gets stuck, shows a message box ‘Can’t read file’ and crashes immediately after you’ve clicked (no choice…) ‘OK’ (God MS’ never lasting smile).
Didn’t help opening:
– a restore from a backup dating from some days ago
– a copy of the files on a folder on my hard disk
– only the ‘original’ file after removing the backup copy from the folder on my hard disk
– a copy of the files on my portable featuring Excel XP.
Didn’t help either: run “excel.exe /regserver”
With other files than this one, Excel opens without a hassle.
BTW, I had a look in the MKDB and look what I found:
Microsoft Knowledge Base Article 149235: How to Prevent File Corruption
Feature number 2: Automatic Backup 
Maybe I’ll find some time over the weekend to measure up the damage – a fine job, definitely (I’m not maintaining a detailed log about the data validation, formula and pivot table changes and graph creations I do, certainly not from the moment I started using that backup copy option +- one month ago) and maybe start all over from the last ‘working’ version I’ve left 
.
But in the mean time, you never know: any suggestions are greately appreciated,
Hasse
