Changing extension on Windows 10

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  1. paulpepe
    Posts : 6
    windows 10
       New #1

    Changing extension on Windows 10


    I recently had to reset my windows 10 due to malware. When I went to open my excel spreadsheets I was faced with a n "open with". I was unable to open with the selection provided so I went to the store and selected an xlsx extension. Now I find that it does not provide the power I use on excel and want to try to return to the original excel extension which is also xlsx. I am completely snowed as how to switch from one xlsx to excel xlsx. Can someone please tell me what to do.
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  3. dalchina
    Posts : 42,986
    Win 10 Pro (22H2) (2nd PC is 22H2)
       New #2

    Hi, I presume you reinstalled Office after resetting Windows, assuming you followed one of the options here:
    Reset Windows 10 Installation Upgrade Tutorials

    If so, it should be an available option, as it should have been assuming you rt clicked a xlsx file and clicked Open With.

    Note a Reset means all your programs are no longer present.

    When you have Excel installed, I suggest in Settings you go here:

    Changing extension on Windows 10-untitled.png
    If Excel is not shown (I don't use it, but you can see two Office-type programs there I could choose - WPS Spreadsheets and Planmaker) then you need to repair or reinstall Excel.


    In any case, if further problems, please post a suitable screenshot. Thanks.

    Note that if you had been using disk imaging routinely (e.g. MAcrium Reflect (free) ) as we continually urge users to do, rather than resetting, you could have restored a recent image, and been back up and running exactly as when you created the image in about an hour- maybe less.
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  4. paulpepe
    Posts : 6
    windows 10
    Thread Starter
       New #3

    changing extension


    When I reset my windows 10, it automatically reset my Office 10 program and Excel is part of that program. I do not have software to reinstall Excel. It seems like some of my programs were reset and others weren't.. I am pretty much computer illiterate but have been able to work my way through many problems over the years. This one has me stumped. Any other solutions?
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  6. dalchina
    Posts : 42,986
    Win 10 Pro (22H2) (2nd PC is 22H2)
       New #4

    So you've lost Office by resetting your PC - and if you read the description in the tutorial you'll find that's a consequence of resetting.

    If you still have the key, you should be able to download a new copy and reinstall it.

    If you don't, you can download and install a free Office suite such as Libre Office, for example.
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  7. Bree
    Posts : 31,660
    10 Home x64 (22H2) (10 Pro on 2nd pc)
       New #5

    paulpepe said:
    When I reset my windows 10, it automatically reset my Office 10 program and Excel is part of that program. I do not have software to reinstall Excel. It seems like some of my programs were reset and others weren't...
    Sounds like you reset Windows 10 with 'keep my files' using the methods described in the tutorial below. The only apps that would have been retained would be those that came built in to Windows 10. Unfortunately your 'Office 10' program (do you mean Office 2010?) is in the category of 'apps that were installed by you or the manufacturer.' and would have been removed.

    Option What it does
    Keep my files
    • This is to refresh Windows 10.
    • Reinstalls Windows 10 and keeps your personal files.
    • Removes apps and drivers you installed.
    • Removes changes you made to settings.
    • Removes any apps your PC manufacturer installed. (If your PC came with Windows 10, apps from your PC manufacturer will be reinstalled.)
    Reset Windows 10

    If that is the case and you have no way to reinstall the Excel that you lost then you will have to either purchase a new version of Office, or try one of the free alternatives. LibreOffice is a free alternative to MS Office, their LibreOffice Calc spreadsheet should have no problems opening your .xlsx files. https://www.libreoffice.org/
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  8. Bree
    Posts : 31,660
    10 Home x64 (22H2) (10 Pro on 2nd pc)
       New #6

    dalchina said:
    If you still have the key, you should be able to download a new copy and reinstall it..
    Life get's complicated if Office was preinstalled by the manufacturer. For a start, you won't have the key (though, for older versions like 2010 and 2007 it may be possible to extract a key). Then you have to get exactly the right media to install the edition of Office you had before. A key for 'Home & Student' won't activate 'Professional' (or vice versa). One of my machines has Office 2007 installed by the OEM, each app (Excel, Word & Powerpoint) was installed by the OEM using a standalone individual installer. This type of install media is unavailable from any known source.

    Under these circumstances, it is vital for me to keep up to date system images available should I need to 'reinstall' windows.
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  9. paulpepe
    Posts : 6
    windows 10
    Thread Starter
       New #7

    changing extension


    Thanks guys. Looks like I am stuck with using Libreoffice. I just thought that there might me a way of deleting my current XLS and replacing it with Excel XLSX version. I do not have the Office 2010 key. And you are right, I selected to save my files when I reset. Appreciate your assistance
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  10. paulpepe
    Posts : 6
    windows 10
    Thread Starter
       New #8

    Thanks guys. Looks like I go to Libreoffice since I do not have the Office 2010 key. I thought there might be a way of deleting my current XLSX and replacing with Excel XLSX or somehow reversing what I did. Appreciate your assistance.
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  12. Bree
    Posts : 31,660
    10 Home x64 (22H2) (10 Pro on 2nd pc)
       New #9

    paulpepe said:
    ... or somehow reversing what I did...
    There may be, but it depends on exactly how you chose to do the reset, if that was less than 10 days ago, and whether you cleaned up after the Reset/Refresh Windows.

    Note   Note
    A list of removed apps will be saved on your desktop to a Removed Apps.html file when the refresh has finished.

    When Windows 10 is refreshed, it will place a Windows.old folder in the root directory of the Windows drive that contains a copy of the previous Windows 10 installation as a backup.
    Refresh Windows 10


    See the tutorial: Go Back to the Previous Version of Windows in Windows 10


    But even if you could go back, it would mean going back to your malware problems too. They would then have to be dealt with another way.
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  13. paulpepe
    Posts : 6
    windows 10
    Thread Starter
       New #10

    Think I will just stick with Libre Office. Seems to be working for me. Appreciate your time and effortds.
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