BleepingComputer.com: Excel file issue in XP

Hi

I have an ADATA C802 USB pen stick which I keep Word and Excel files on.

I am unable to open one of my Excel files which is 80kb in size and just had text and numbers in it (ie no macros or formulas).

There are 2 worksheets in the file.

I have opened and worked on the file numerous times before with no problem opening it. I last worked on it a week ago, edited some data, added a second worksheet, saved the file, and then changed the file name.

When I now try to open it, it comes up with the message as below:

"file cannot be accessed. the file may be read-only or you may be trying to access a read only location, or the server the document is stored on may not be responding".


My PC is Windows XP, and the Excel file was originally created in Ofice2003.


I have tried to open the file using Google Docs, Open Office, ExcelViewer but no luck.... it comes up with the message "file invalid"

I have tried recovery tools including "Pandora Recovery" and managed to recover a tmp file from my USB stick which may be an old copy of the file, and opened it using WORDPAD, but it opened up as gibberish.

3) I have tried the tool "Repair my Excel" which scanned the file and then came up with the following messages

File Open - OK
OLE Header - OK
OLE Header Structure Corrupt - X
Reading BIFF - OK


Another tool I tried "Easy Data Recovery" (trial version) I was able to see the HEX of the file, but not the file contents. Does that mean the file is ok and can that HEX be converted to English.

Or... the tmp file I retrieved and can view in WORDPAD, can that be converted to English.

I am only interested in recovering the 2nd worksheet from the file which was approx 10kb if that is any help. The file only contains text and numbers.... no macros, or forumlas.

I'd be grateful for any assistance.

Edit: Moved topic from XP to the more appropriate forum. ~ Animal
(Moderator edit: added Topic Description. jgw)

This post has been edited by jgweed: 29 January 2012 - 09:43 AM

Hi

Here's a couple of ideas.

Have you tried renaming the tmp file to tmp.xls?

Have you tried viewing hidden files on the USB stick?

If so, do you see anything like
~$NameOfFile.xls
where NameOfFile is the name of your original file?

Can you see the file on the USB stick and copy/paste it to your desktop?

If you don't know how to do any of the above, let us know and we'll tell you what to do.

James

Hi James . How do i view the hidden files on the stick?

In XP
Click START
MY COMPUTER
The My Computer window should open
On the menu bar of that window click TOOLS
click FOLDER OPTIONS
the Folder Options window should open
click the VIEW tab
Under Advanced Settings click
Show Hidden Files and Folders
click OK
Now you should be back in your My Computer window where you can see your USB stick
Double click your USB stick to see its contents and hidden files should be semi-transparent.
Let us know if you see a semi transparent file named
~$NameOfFile.xls
where NameOfFile is the name of your original file.

James

Hi James

I did what you suggest but cant view the hidden files unfortunately. Nothing is showing. So I checked the regedit Microsoft current version/ hidden... etc and the checked value is at 1 and default value at 2

I also scanned the USB stick which says there are 2 hidden files. The BOOTEX confo read as follows:

Checking file system on E:
The type of the file system is FAT32.

One of your disks needs to be checked for consistency. You
may cancel the disk check, but it is strongly recommended
that you continue.
Windows will now check the disk.
Volume Serial Number is 18F5-193F
Convert lost chains to files (Y/N)? Yes
4 KB in 1 recovered files.
Windows has made corrections to the file system.
7765988 KB total disk space.
80 KB in 2 hidden files.
404 KB in 88 folders.
821808 KB in 1204 files.
6943688 KB are available.

4096 bytes in each allocation unit.
1941497 total allocation units on disk.
1735922 allocation units available on disk.


Im hoping those hidden files might be it! but I cant display them. any suggestions as to why they are not displaying?

thanks

I would try the chkdsk /r command on the drive...possible file corruption may be overcome in the same manner previously used for floppies which suddenly developed into problem children.

Louis

The chkdsk /r command is the only one which attempts to recover data which might lie in bad sectors.

This post has been edited by hamluis: 29 January 2012 - 09:41 AM

Hi

My intention was for you to answer my questions in my first post but I'm afraid that I inadvertently sent you on a wild goose chase.
Please accept my apologies.
The hidden file would only be a locking file and would not have your data. All you would do is delete it to hopefully make your file not think it was read only.

Can you see the corrupted workbook file?

Have you tried copying it to your desktop and double clicking it?

You said before

Quote

Have you tried renaming the tmp file by adding .xls or .xlsx to the end of it and then double clicking it?

If none of these work then by the results of the scan of your USB stick, I'm afraid the file is gone.

James