Excel97 file stalls when trying to open with Excel2000

[bomby]

I have a problem trying to open an XL97 file with XL2000. The CPU goes to 100% and will sit there overnight with only the basic page format loading, but no workbooks or data.

The .xls file (5.8mb) with about 20 worksheets and links to three other files. There are large areas of text in the file, but no pictures.

The files where created from our head office in SA using XL97 and are required for fiscal year reporting compliance.

Machines effected are all Intel 850mhz 256mb 20gb NT4.0sp6a running Office 2000.

However I can open the file in about 40 seconds with Office 97 on both W95sp2 & W98SE old P233 machines, no problems.

I tried loading Office 2000 on the W9x machines (very painfull to use!)thinking it may be a OS problem, but the same error occurred.

I am sure it is something in 2000 that cannot handle something in the spreadsheets.

Anybody got any suggestions and maybe stop me having to stomp around the office AH looking for a machine that can open this file?

 

[JVFriederick]

Just making guesses.....

1) Using XL2K, open the other 3 files that are linked, then open the 5.8MB file.
2) Open in XL97 and look for more file links. Confirm the links, and the path to the files. Check if a link is pointing to a drive that doesn't exist on your XL2K machine. There may be other link files that XL2K cannot find.

It sounds like a file link problem (which XL2K may handle differently than XL97) OR a corrupt file (that XL97 ignores and XL2K has a problem with).

BTW, your question is one of the best written and entirely complete that I've seen on this site ....... just wish I could help you !!!

 

[donnadee]

We had a problem like that, but it would happen when a user would try to save a document. There was a bmp graphic imbedded in the document. The user had Quick Time 32 loaded and saving the Excel doc, Quick Time interfered.

We changed the Quick Time ini file to not be the default viewer for bmp graphics.