"We found a problem with some content in. Do you want us to try to recover as much as we can? If you trust the source of this workbook, click yes."
What is the Error that Causes Excel Files to Get Corrupted?
The cause of the error is usually due to:
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a). some error in any add-ins in the third-party software.
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b). If a string is added to a cell instead of a number this error may come. This can also happen if a string is added which is convertible to a number.
A few scenarios where Excel sheet gets corrupted are as below:
Improper shutdown of the system: Many times computer systems undergo sudden shutdown due to power supply failure or any similar reason. However, shutting down the system normally but without properly closing all the running applications may also cause damaging effects to files and data to a similar degree. MS Excel files also get damaged or corrupted due to such reasons.
Virus: Computer viruses are programs maliciously designed to infect source or data files on a computer, often at a very large scale. A computer system contaminated with the virus can be a cause of Excel files getting corrupted.
Bad sectors on a storage device: The storage devices e.g. hard drive (local), hard drive (external) pen drive, etc. may get developed bad sectors over some period, which is a hardware problem, Excel sheet on these bad sectors of storage media can get corrupt.
Improper handling of MS Excel: An unexpected closing of an Excel sheet or improper closing of an opened file can be a cause of a corrupted Excel file.
Large data size: MS Excel is not meant for handling huge data as it is not a database, therefore, chances of corruption become more if you overload excel files to contain a large amount of data.
Software conflict: Sometimes software conflicts as well as, rarely, though, printing excel files may also be the cause of damaged excel files.
Macros and Formulas: Excel Macros and complex formulas also have a known bad reputation for creating corrupted data in a working worksheet.
With 'Open and Repair' Feature to Repair Corrupt Excel File
To repair the Excel workbook (Excel 2013) with the type of error message: "We found a problem with some content in <filename>. Do you want us to try to recover as much as we can? If you trust the source of this workbook, click yes"
That appears with Excel 2007/2010 as well, there are five methods to recover corrupted files.
1. Restore (from Backup). The file can be restored from the backup whereas backup must be maintained automatically.
2. Restore (from the Recovery file). This is an alternative to backup, a file comprising all the Excel data that you can fetch back even if data is deleted or damaged accidentally. To do this mark 'check' in every box of "Save AutoRecovery" in the Excel Options, except 'Disable AutoRecover'.
3. Recover from Office Document. This option is available only when the file is slightly affected. In the task pane of documentary recovery, an arrow near the recovered file may be clicked, and the 'Save AS' option enables recovery.
4. Open and Repair" feature. Excel automatically starts attempting recovery is the case it detects any corrupt Excel 2013 file, as the facility is provided in MS Excel itself. But failure to this mode, manual recovery is achievable by the "Open and Repair" feature. Follow these steps.
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Open Excel.
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Click File -> Open.
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Browse. Select a corrupted worksheet.
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From the pull-down menu (pressing the arrow of the Open button) click 'Open and Repair'.
5.Third-party Tools.
In case none of these options recover Excel 2013 file properly, the best professional Excel Repair software 'Wondershare Repairit' should be used to fix all errors.
Repair MS Excel File with Excel Repair Tool
Wondershare Repairit - File Repair is an Excel file repair software. The demo version is free to let the novice experience comfortably. It is a must-have excel file repair software that flawlessly repairs corrupted excel files. This excel file repair software offers two licensed versions, one for a single user and another for multiple systems that are available supporting Mac (Excel2011) and all versions of windows.
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Repairs all kinds of data stored in damaged excel files such as tables, charts, formulas, comments, images, etc.
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Restore all of your corrupted excel files to their original standing.
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No limit to the number and size of the repairable files.
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Support Windows 11/10/8/7/Vista, Windows Server 2003/2008/2012/2016/2019/2022, and macOS 10.10~macOS 14.
Simple steps to perform File Repair
For Windows, the following sequence of steps may be followed to easily repair corrupted excel files, corrupted or damaged. For Mac, the option is there and can be used the same way. This Excel file repair software works equally well on either of the two to repair corrupted excel files.
Step 1 Upload the damaged Excel files on Repairit – File Repair after Choosing "File Repair" in the "More Types Repair".
Step 2 Repair the loaded Excel documents on Repairit by clicking the "Repair" Button.
Step 3 Preview the Results and Export your Excel Files.
Here, on the native interface of Repairit, you can check if the loaded Excel document has been repaired by getting its preview.
That’s it! If you are satisfied with the results, then you can just click on the “Save” button adjacent to the file’s details. This will let you export your repaired Excel files from Repairit to any secure location on your system.
Tips to Repair Corrupted Excel File
Case 1. When Excel cannot open the file
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Copy and open corrupt files on a hard drive.
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Find .xlb file. Also, keep a backup as well. Delete .xlb. Restart Excel.
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Try opening the file in MS Word or Notepad. However, that will let you recover data but not formatting.
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Use Excel XP. This has better options for recovery.
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When attempting to open the file, disable macros.
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Click start running Excel in safe mode and then enter "C:\Program file\Microsoft office\office\excel.exe"/s.
Case 2. When Excel file is open
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Try on a different computer.
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Switch off Auto-save.
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Turn off the file-sharing option.
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Don't run Excel from a floppy.
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Save the file as a web page and reopen it as an Excel file.
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Decrease the size of the Excel file.
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Go back to the last version of the file saved.
Precautionary Tips to avoid excel files get corrupted
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Ensure the system is shut down properly.
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Always install the latest anti-virus.
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No bad sectors should be there on the storage device.
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Always close Excel properly.
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Avoid huge data handling with Excel.
Attention:
If you do not want to download software on your computer and your corrupted file is no more than 3GB, you can try the online version of Repairit
