Working with an excel file—then I can’t open it. Get a message “name of the file–file format invalid” Any ideas why all of a sudden this file went belly up? Thanks for your help—Carol
![]() |
There are isolated problems with current patches, but they are well-known and documented on this site. |
SIGN IN | Not a member? | REGISTER | PLUS MEMBERSHIP |
-
File Format Invalid (Excel 2000)
Home » Forums » AskWoody support » Productivity software by function » MS Excel and spreadsheet help » File Format Invalid (Excel 2000)
- This topic has 4 replies, 3 voices, and was last updated 21 years, 4 months ago.
Viewing 3 reply threadsAuthorReplies-
WSjujuraf
AskWoody LoungerNovember 18, 2003 at 12:43 am #745112Yikes!!! That’s not pretty and there’s no real solution that I’ve ever found. Sometimes Excel just
all over itself with no warning whatsoever. You might try opening it in another version of Excel (or Sun Office) or if you just want the data itself you could open a new workbook and have a formula point to the dead workbook and suck the data out.
In cell A1 of your new empty workbook add “=[deadworkbook.xls]sheet3!A1” (without the quotes)
then copy this down from your new workbook.
Hopefully you have another working copy. This has happened to me several times and I get to the point that I flinch every time I open a workbook wondering if THIS is the time it’ll die on me.
Deb
-
WSjujuraf
AskWoody LoungerNovember 18, 2003 at 12:43 am #745113Yikes!!! That’s not pretty and there’s no real solution that I’ve ever found. Sometimes Excel just
all over itself with no warning whatsoever. You might try opening it in another version of Excel (or Sun Office) or if you just want the data itself you could open a new workbook and have a formula point to the dead workbook and suck the data out.
In cell A1 of your new empty workbook add “=[deadworkbook.xls]sheet3!A1” (without the quotes)
then copy this down from your new workbook.
Hopefully you have another working copy. This has happened to me several times and I get to the point that I flinch every time I open a workbook wondering if THIS is the time it’ll die on me.
Deb
-
WSsdckapr
AskWoody Lounger -
WSsdckapr
AskWoody Lounger
Viewing 3 reply threads -

Plus Membership
Donations from Plus members keep this site going. You can identify the people who support AskWoody by the Plus badge on their avatars.
AskWoody Plus members not only get access to all of the contents of this site -- including Susan Bradley's frequently updated Patch Watch listing -- they also receive weekly AskWoody Plus Newsletters (formerly Windows Secrets Newsletter) and AskWoody Plus Alerts, emails when there are important breaking developments.
Get Plus!
Welcome to our unique respite from the madness.
It's easy to post questions about Windows 11, Windows 10, Win8.1, Win7, Surface, Office, or browse through our Forums. Post anonymously or register for greater privileges. Keep it civil, please: Decorous Lounge rules strictly enforced. Questions? Contact Customer Support.
Search Newsletters
Search Forums
View the Forum
Search for Topics
Recent Topics
-
DOGE Wants to Replace SSA 60 Million Line COBOL Codebase in Months
by
EyesOnWindows
26 minutes ago -
KB5051989 Usb printer Post Ipp
by
licencesti
36 minutes ago -
Removing bypassnro
by
Susan Bradley
7 minutes ago -
Up to 30 seconds to show “Recent Topics”
by
PL1
44 minutes ago -
Sound changes after upgrade from W11 23H2
by
WStaylorpsepa
1 hour, 17 minutes ago -
Windows bug blocks BIOS updates for Lenovo ThinkPad laptops
by
Alex5723
4 hours, 20 minutes ago -
O&O Software – ‘World Backup Day’ Sale
by
unbob
40 minutes ago -
Still version 23H2?
by
WSbxcfilm
5 hours, 8 minutes ago -
Ubuntu 25.04 (Plucky Puffin) Beta released
by
Alex5723
11 hours, 5 minutes ago -
How to install App Store apps on an external SSD
by
Alex5723
11 hours, 59 minutes ago -
Where is Windows going?
by
Susan Bradley
2 hours, 16 minutes ago -
Installing Feature Update Windows 11 24H2
by
geekdom
1 day, 5 hours ago -
Windows 11 Insider Preview build 27823 released to Canary
by
joep517
1 day, 5 hours ago -
Windows 11 Hotpatch
by
Hackmuss
13 hours, 9 minutes ago -
System Guard service error still won’t be fixed
by
Susan Bradley
1 day, 6 hours ago -
Operation ForumTroll: APT attack with Google Chrome zero-day exploit chain
by
Alex5723
1 day ago -
Troy Hunt of HaveIBeenPwned Phished
by
Lars220
21 hours, 42 minutes ago -
Microsoft Windows security auditing Code 5061
by
mpw
1 day, 19 hours ago -
Can’t display images in incoming Outlook 365 emails
by
WScopwriter
1 day, 2 hours ago -
Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 26200.5510 early builds of 25H2
by
Alex5723
1 day, 4 hours ago -
0Patch : Micropatches released for SCF File NTLM Hash Disclosure Vulnerability
by
Alex5723
1 day, 3 hours ago -
Select multiple emails and they all open up!
by
CeeJay
2 days, 20 hours ago -
How to remove an update preview
by
Gunny
23 hours ago -
Third party add ins reminder
by
Susan Bradley
5 hours, 42 minutes ago -
OTF, which backs Tor, Let’s Encrypt and more, sues to save its funding
by
Nibbled To Death By Ducks
2 days, 13 hours ago -
Updating Windows 10 to Windows 11: 23H2 or 24H2?
by
Still Anonymous
3 days ago -
How can I update “Explorer Patcher”
by
WSplanckster
3 days, 2 hours ago -
Check out the home page for Signal
by
CAS
3 days ago -
Windows 11 and Trial version of MS Office
by
Tex265
2 days, 23 hours ago -
Windows 11 Insider Preview build 26120.3585 (24H2) released to BETA
by
joep517
3 days, 6 hours ago
Recent blog posts
- Removing bypassnro
- Where is Windows going?
- System Guard service error still won’t be fixed
- Third party add ins reminder
- MS-DEFCON 4: Mixed bag for March
- Classic and Extended Control Panel — no need to say goodbye
- Things you can do in 2025 that you couldn’t do in 2024
- Revisiting Windows 11’s File Explorer
Key Links
Want to Advertise in the free newsletter? How about a gift subscription in honor of a birthday? Send an email to sb@askwoody.com to ask how.
Mastodon profile for DefConPatch
Mastodon profile for AskWoody
Home • About • FAQ • Posts & Privacy • Forums • My Account
Register • Free Newsletter • Plus Membership • Gift Certificates • MS-DEFCON Alerts
Copyright ©2004-2025 by AskWoody Tech LLC. All Rights Reserved.