"Cannot find the file" error message when you open Excel files from outside of Excel (296055)


The information in this article applies to:

  • Microsoft Office Excel 2003
  • Microsoft Excel 2002
  • Microsoft Excel 2000
  • Microsoft Excel 97 for Windows
This article was previously published under Q296055

SYMPTOMS

When you attempt to open Microsoft Excel files from outside of Excel, you may receive an error message similar to the following:
Cannot find the file filename.XLS (or one of its components).

Make sure the path and file name are correct and that all required libraries are available.

CAUSE

This behavior can occur when Excel is not properly registered.

RESOLUTION

To resolve this issue, follow these steps:
  1. Quit Excel and all other programs.
  2. Click Start, and then click Run.
  3. Type excel /unregserver, and then click OK.
  4. Click Start, and then click Run.
  5. Type excel /regserver, and then click OK.
  6. Start Excel.
  7. Quit Excel.
These steps unregister and then re-register Excel.

REFERENCES

291288 Startup switches for Microsoft Excel

Modification Type:MajorLast Reviewed:8/22/2006
Keywords:kbregistration kbopenfile kberrmsg kbpending kbprb KB296055
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