Excel Icon on taskbar does not open file, only program

Page 4 of 5 FirstFirst ... 2345 LastLast

  1. Posts : 79
    windows 10 64 bit v1607 v1709 (6/11/17)
    Thread Starter
       #31

    So here's the process I go through to open the file I want:
    I right-click on the excel icon in the launch/task bar;
    that brings up a "jumplist" of pinned or most recently used files;
    I click on the filename I want (I could right-click on the filename and select open) both bring up a blank excel screen, no file;
    I then click on File on the menu line, and that opens a new window, defaulted to OPEN, with a list of recent files;
    I single-click on the file I want and it opens then.
    Remember, there are two other ways that don't work;
    going to the folder where the file resides and double-clicking on it
    in that same folder selecting the file and right-clicking it and selecting open;
    Both of these two give me an error message "There was a problem sending the command to the program"

    Wayne
      My Computer


  2. Posts : 79
    windows 10 64 bit v1607 v1709 (6/11/17)
    Thread Starter
       #32

    ps re my knowledge, not sure about that, mine is from my keep-it-simple-s approach to things and I try not
    to take risks with something unless I wrote it and know how to fix it ( and I didn't and don't want to (lol)). I can offer thoughts
    about something like this, but seldom have knowledge about the fixes.

    Wayne
      My Computer


  3. Posts : 29,078
    Windows 10 21H1 Build 19043.1023
       #33

    keesadad said:
    So here's the process I go through to open the file I want:
    I right-click on the excel icon in the launch/task bar;
    that brings up a "jumplist" of pinned or most recently used files;
    I click on the filename I want (I could right-click on the filename and select open) both bring up a blank excel screen, no file;
    I then click on File on the menu line, and that opens a new window, defaulted to OPEN, with a list of recent files;
    I single-click on the file I want and it opens then.
    Remember, there are two other ways that don't work;
    going to the folder where the file resides and double-clicking on it
    in that same folder selecting the file and right-clicking it and selecting open;
    Both of these two give me an error message "There was a problem sending the command to the program"

    Wayne
    I was preparing a reply to your post just above this one, but cancelled it, since you give more info in this one. I mainly scanned the thread between you and Simrick before and missed some pertinent information.

    At this point, the only advice I can give is to reinstall Office 2013, because I don't see anything else working. It's my opinion that for some reason, Excel has been corrupted.
      My Computer


  4. Posts : 79
    windows 10 64 bit v1607 v1709 (6/11/17)
    Thread Starter
       #34

    I tend to agree with you, except I re-installed yesterday, using the "change" option under Uninstall programs in Control Panel.
    That gives two options, local or online, and I first did local, which did not change this problem, then yesterday did online,
    which goes through quite a process, including asking me for the key and my account. (I don't have a disc, only the key-card,
    because it was "pre-installed" on the computer

    Wayne
      My Computer


  5. Posts : 29,078
    Windows 10 21H1 Build 19043.1023
       #35

    keesadad said:
    I tend to agree with you, except I re-installed yesterday, using the "change" option under Uninstall programs in Control Panel.
    That gives two options, local or online, and I first did local, which did not change this problem, then yesterday did online,
    which goes through quite a process, including asking me for the key and my account. (I don't have a disc, only the key-card,
    because it was "pre-installed" on the computer

    Wayne
    Which version do you have?
      My Computer


  6. Posts : 79
    windows 10 64 bit v1607 v1709 (6/11/17)
    Thread Starter
       #36

    My Office version is Home and Student 2013, automatically updated thru Win 10. Version # is 15.0.4787.1002

    Wayne
      My Computer


  7. Posts : 16,325
    W10Prox64
       #37

    keesadad said:
    I tend to agree with you, except I re-installed yesterday, using the "change" option under Uninstall programs in Control Panel.
    That gives two options, local or online, and I first did local, which did not change this problem, then yesterday did online,
    which goes through quite a process, including asking me for the key and my account. (I don't have a disc, only the key-card,
    because it was "pre-installed" on the computer

    Wayne
    keesadad said:
    My Office version is Home and Student 2013, automatically updated thru Win 10. Version # is 15.0.4787.1002

    Wayne
    Hi Wayne,
    So, Wynona and I have discussed this at length, and have come to this conclusion:

    Office2013 only ever came with a keycard, no matter where you bought it from. If not installed by your system manufacturer, then you have to go online to install it. I think it makes no difference if ASUS or any other system MFG installed it - I am pretty sure on that: Keycode only starting with O2013.

    I recall installing O2013 on a system for someone. I wanted them to have a backup of the install media, so instead of installing it online, I clicked a link that said "other" for installation, or after I clicked "show keycode" in the account, I then had the option to download the ISO for installation offline.

    If you can, grab the ISO, burn to disk, completely uninstall Office, reboot, clear out registry of all Office entries using Ccleaner, reboot again, and reinstall completely. That's what I would do. But first, make sure that corrupted Excel file is completely gone from the system, and backup any custom ribbons you may have created.

    office.microsoft.com

    Sorry I can't give you step-by-steps with screenshots, but I am working from memory.

    Failing that, a call to MS Office Support might be in order. It's obviously something to do with the Excel portion of the Office install itself, since Word works properly. Although I'm surprised that the online repair option didn't work - but perhaps something remained on the system that is messing things up. So, completely uninstalling/reinstalling may do the trick.

    Sorry we couldn't be of more help. Please report back with your results.
      My Computer


  8. Posts : 79
    windows 10 64 bit v1607 v1709 (6/11/17)
    Thread Starter
       #38

    To simrick and Wynona,
    first thank you for the effort you both put into this. I was coming to a conclusion that I shud just move on from this,
    but that's frustrating because I think software shud be less painful than what of this current bleep puts us through,
    but I geuss that's what this era is about. I would appreciate "one" more thingi if you would look over the questions
    below and send me ion the right direction.

    1- I've heard of ISO before, I'm assuming that if I get it and get it burned to disk, then the disk becomes the installation
    disk, correct?
    2- My experience with ccleaner is that it doesn't do much of a job of cleaning the registry- on a software de-installation
    that I did last year, after using ccleaner on the registry, I went back in and found over 100 entries of that program
    still in the regiistry. I understand that one shouldn't play in the registry and that one shouldn't use a Registry cleaner,
    but... is that all there is?
    3- can you give me any info about how to backup the custom Excel Ribbon;
    4- last, and unfortunately not close to being the least, I use a spreadsheet to monitor and control my diabetes.
    It is a critical part of my daily routine, from 8 am until 11pm. My experience last year with uninstalling and re-installing
    Excel is that we are talking many days. If you uninstall and then try to re-install, the uninstall "calls Home" and tells Dept A
    and when I re-installed, it's probably DeptB verifying the keys, but DeptA and B don't communicate for a while and it doesn't
    allow the re-install because the "key" still shows as installed.
    This is exactly what I encountered last summer- I bought a Lenovo laptop w/Office installed (and got the key), and took
    it back to Lenovo 4 days later (infested with adware, which automatically re-installed itself the next day). I uninstalled Office
    before I took it back. Two hours later I was back home with a different laptop, but couldn't install Office for at least 3-4 days
    until A and B confirm.

    Any way you know where that gap can be "bypassed"

    Again, thank you both for your help (oh, by the way, don't think I ever mentioned what I think caused the corrupt Excel file.
    While I was editing a macro, I somehow created two with the same name. Excel (VBA) never flagged it as an error
    when I exited VBA, but seemed sluggish as I tried to work in the spreadsheet. I tried going back into macro editing
    but couldn't and Excel or whatever never allowed me to open the file again.

    Cheers
    Wayne
      My Computer


  9. Posts : 16,325
    W10Prox64
       #39

    keesadad said:
    To simrick and Wynona,
    first thank you for the effort you both put into this. I was coming to a conclusion that I shud just move on from this,
    but that's frustrating because I think software shud be less painful than what of this current bleep puts us through,
    but I geuss that's what this era is about. I would appreciate "one" more thingi if you would look over the questions
    below and send me ion the right direction.
    keesadad said:
    1- I've heard of ISO before, I'm assuming that if I get it and get it burned to disk, then the disk becomes the installation disk, correct?
    Yes. The ISO would be your installation media. You can burn it to disk, copy it to a stick/flash drive or just run the setup.exe from within the file.

    keesadad said:
    2- My experience with ccleaner is that it doesn't do much of a job of cleaning the registry- on a software de-installation that I did last year, after using ccleaner on the registry, I went back in and found over 100 entries of that program
    still in the regiistry. I understand that one shouldn't play in the registry and that one shouldn't use a Registry cleaner,
    but... is that all there is?
    Ccleaner is safe, and I have never had a problem with it. That said, it may leave some harmless bits behind. But, anything else, I don't use and am not familiar with, except to say that many, MANY others will bork your registry/system because they remove too much.

    keesadad said:
    3- can you give me any info about how to backup the custom Excel Ribbon;
    Customize the ribbon - Office Support

    Yes - Links for the export and import custom ribbon are at the bottom of the list "What do you want to do?".

    keesadad said:
    4- last, and unfortunately not close to being the least, I use a spreadsheet to monitor and control my diabetes. It is a critical part of my daily routine, from 8 am until 11pm. My experience last year with uninstalling and re-installing
    Excel is that we are talking many days. If you uninstall and then try to re-install, the uninstall "calls Home" and tells Dept A
    and when I re-installed, it's probably DeptB verifying the keys, but DeptA and B don't communicate for a while and it doesn't
    allow the re-install because the "key" still shows as installed.
    This is exactly what I encountered last summer- I bought a Lenovo laptop w/Office installed (and got the key), and took
    it back to Lenovo 4 days later (infested with adware, which automatically re-installed itself the next day). I uninstalled Office
    before I took it back. Two hours later I was back home with a different laptop, but couldn't install Office for at least 3-4 days
    until A and B confirm.

    Any way you know where that gap can be "bypassed"
    Well, I've never had any experience with that, because I never buy a system with Office installed. But I'm sure if you call MS when having a problem, they can resolve it while you're on the phone. Instructions can be found here:

    Activate Office 365 Home, Personal, University, Office 2013, or Office 2016 - Office Support

    Activate Office 2013 or Office 2016 on a different PC

    If you move Office to a different PC, you’ll need to activate by phone. You’ll find the number in the Activation Wizard:

    1. In any Office application, click File > Account > Activate Product.
    2. In the Activation Wizard, click I want to activate the software by telephone > Next.
      Tip If nothing happens when you select Next, use the Enter key on your keyboard.
    3. Select your country/region.
    4. Call the Product Activation Center phone number that’s under Step 1.

    keesadad said:
    Again, thank you both for your help (oh, by the way, don't think I ever mentioned what I think caused the corrupt Excel file.
    While I was editing a macro, I somehow created two with the same name. Excel (VBA) never flagged it as an error
    when I exited VBA, but seemed sluggish as I tried to work in the spreadsheet. I tried going back into macro editing
    but couldn't and Excel or whatever never allowed me to open the file again.

    Cheers
    Wayne
    I don't know Excel well enough for that. But, before you do anything, maybe you might post a new question in the Social.MSDN forum; see if an Excel specialist might be able to give you some things to try.

    Excel VBA project corrupted?

    It's worth a shot. Good luck. Sorry we couldn't be of more help.
      My Computer


  10. Posts : 79
    windows 10 64 bit v1607 v1709 (6/11/17)
    Thread Starter
       #40

    You were very helpful, in fact....you pointed me in the direction of repairing Excel, which is where I found
    the info for the "simple" way to extract the data form the corrupted file! So thanks for that, for the info in that last spiel
    of mine, all good pointers.
    All the best, happy trails to u,
    Wayne
      My Computer


 

  Related Discussions
Our Sites
Site Links
About Us
Windows 10 Forums is an independent web site and has not been authorized, sponsored, or otherwise approved by Microsoft Corporation. "Windows 10" and related materials are trademarks of Microsoft Corp.

© Designer Media Ltd
All times are GMT -5. The time now is 11:56.
Find Us




Windows 10 Forums