Unable to Read File

S

Steve

I've recently begun receiving error message "Unable to
Read File" when trying to open a password protected file.
I am able to open the Jan, Feb, Mar and Apr files without
problem, but not the May file. Thinking it was a fluke, I
spent a half-day yesterday creating a June file, but
returned, tried to open yesterday's file, and got the
same error message. I have now received the error message
on two files (May and June), basically eliminating the
possibliity of a random fluke. From reading the Microsoft
Knowledge Base, it appears that this may be a known
problem. Does anyone have any suggestions on how to get
around this problem? Thanks in advance.
 
J

Jim Rech

If the suggestions in the MS Knowledgebase articles on corrupted files have
not helped you, you might have to look into data recovery tools such as at
http://www.conceptdata.com/excel/.

You seem to have a pattern of getting corrupted files. You'll absolutely
need a system of backing up files in that case. In fact everyone should
backup important files. Also, if by any chance you are saving files to
floppy disks, you definitely want to stop that practice. Floppy disks and
Excel do not get along.

--
Jim Rech
Excel MVP
| I've recently begun receiving error message "Unable to
| Read File" when trying to open a password protected file.
| I am able to open the Jan, Feb, Mar and Apr files without
| problem, but not the May file. Thinking it was a fluke, I
| spent a half-day yesterday creating a June file, but
| returned, tried to open yesterday's file, and got the
| same error message. I have now received the error message
| on two files (May and June), basically eliminating the
| possibliity of a random fluke. From reading the Microsoft
| Knowledge Base, it appears that this may be a known
| problem. Does anyone have any suggestions on how to get
| around this problem? Thanks in advance.
 
S

Steve

Jim,

First, thanks for your reply.

MS Knowledgebase article (Q213879) doesn't offer any
help, other than to suggest I download some additional
code (which I did) and then contact Microsoft.

From reading the article, it sounds like this is a known
problem and not specific to my computer or my usage
patterns.

I backup regularly, but don't believe this is a backup
issue. The file I created Sunday was unreadable Monday.
The file I created May 31, is now unreadable. However,
the files I created in April, March, February and January
are all readable. Strange. Further, when I recreated my
work yesterday (a sizable task) I saved the file without
using a password and can read it fine today; but the file
I created Sunday with a password is unreadable. My
conclusion: there's a bug in the password facility.

Steve
 
J

Jim Rech

there's a bug in the password facility.

You may be onto something although I haven't had a problem with the file
password feature the little I've used it. There is something odd going on
though and the cryptic MSKB article adds to the mystery. I had not seen
that article before. Have you tried contacting MS?

--
Jim Rech
Excel MVP
| Jim,
|
| First, thanks for your reply.
|
| MS Knowledgebase article (Q213879) doesn't offer any
| help, other than to suggest I download some additional
| code (which I did) and then contact Microsoft.
|
| From reading the article, it sounds like this is a known
| problem and not specific to my computer or my usage
| patterns.
|
| I backup regularly, but don't believe this is a backup
| issue. The file I created Sunday was unreadable Monday.
| The file I created May 31, is now unreadable. However,
| the files I created in April, March, February and January
| are all readable. Strange. Further, when I recreated my
| work yesterday (a sizable task) I saved the file without
| using a password and can read it fine today; but the file
| I created Sunday with a password is unreadable. My
| conclusion: there's a bug in the password facility.
|
| Steve
| >-----Original Message-----
| >If the suggestions in the MS Knowledgebase articles on
| corrupted files have
| >not helped you, you might have to look into data
| recovery tools such as at
| >http://www.conceptdata.com/excel/.
| >
| >You seem to have a pattern of getting corrupted files.
| You'll absolutely
| >need a system of backing up files in that case. In fact
| everyone should
| >backup important files. Also, if by any chance you are
| saving files to
| >floppy disks, you definitely want to stop that
| practice. Floppy disks and
| >Excel do not get along.
| >
| >--
| >Jim Rech
| >Excel MVP
| message
| >| >| I've recently begun receiving error message "Unable to
| >| Read File" when trying to open a password protected
| file.
| >| I am able to open the Jan, Feb, Mar and Apr files
| without
| >| problem, but not the May file. Thinking it was a
| fluke, I
| >| spent a half-day yesterday creating a June file, but
| >| returned, tried to open yesterday's file, and got the
| >| same error message. I have now received the error
| message
| >| on two files (May and June), basically eliminating the
| >| possibliity of a random fluke. From reading the
| Microsoft
| >| Knowledge Base, it appears that this may be a known
| >| problem. Does anyone have any suggestions on how to get
| >| around this problem? Thanks in advance.
| >
| >
| >.
| >
 
S

Steve

Jim,

I began thinking, as you, that I would follow the MSKB
instructions, but that led me to a screen that said, for
a mere $35 I can have MS help resolve this bug. Thinking
that that wasn't exactly fair, I figured I'd try this
Newsgroup first.

I've been using Excel passwords for years and have never
had a problem before. And keep in mind that I can still
open all my other password protected files. The MSKB
reference leads me to believe this is a known bug and
that someone has a fix.

Steve
 
D

Dave Peterson

You may want to try a different version of excel to see if it can open it.
(xl2002+ may work)

And OpenOffice has a better reputation for opening files that earlier versions
of excel couldn't.

(http://www.openoffice.org, a 60-65 meg download or a CD)

If the file is really important, there are commercial recovery services. I've
never used it, but you might want to check into:
http://www.officerecovery.com
 
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