Ongoing technical issue with workbook

**sdb92** · 06-28-2020, 08:44 PM

Hi there,

I've been having a lot of trouble with opening a really important workbook. This problem only happens with a specific document and I am able to open all other excel documents without issue. When I open it, it freezes and I usually just have to force quit it in the end. I have already tried the following fixes:

- uninstall/reinstall
- virus scan
- make sure I have the most up-to-date version
- disabling protected view
- removing the password
- removing .COM add-ins
- re-saving the document locally (was initially stored in Dropbox)

Recently I tried to open the document in safe mode which worked initially. The next time I tried this however, it did not work (in safe mode). The document froze for ages, then a pop up came up (something about margins- possibly that the page exceeds margins), then it froze again, and then another pop up came up about memory- advising me to close applications. I closed everything and tried again to no avail.

Any help will be greatly appreciated!!

**6StringJazzer** · 06-28-2020, 09:04 PM

Welcome to the Forum sdb92!

When it freezes, have you checked Task Manager to see if Excel is consuming CPU, and how much memory?

Does the file have macros?

What can you tell us about it--how big is it? How many sheets? How many columns/rows are you using? What kind of formulas? Conditional formatting?

**sdb92** · 06-28-2020, 09:48 PM

Thank you

I just tried that and it's consuming approx 24-34% CPU and approx 55MB memory.

The document is a logbook that was created by someone at my university- I just downloaded a blank version from my university's online learning management system and have attached it.
To note, I actually just tried to open the blank version and it also froze.

I have been filling this document out for over a year and a half. Currently it is 110KB. Because I cannot open it I'm not too sure of it's properties but from memory it has about 7 sheets, on the two sheets that I've worked in most, there is probably upwards of 300 rows and approx 10 columns.
I'm not 100% sure, but I don't think there are macros (according to the info I found on an excel tips page titled 'Finding Workbooks Containing Macros')

No conditional formatting. I also can't tell you heaps about the formula's because I didn't create the document, but I think that they are all pretty basic. Lots of SUM and then the first sheet has a table that summarises all of the info from the other sheets.

Apologies- I'm not great with this stuff but hope that helps.

**6StringJazzer** · 06-29-2020, 09:28 AM

This is a fairly simple file, as you said. No macros. I cannot imagine what is causing you to have this problem. I am not having any issues when I open this file. I am surprised that even an uninstall/reinstall did not clear things up. I am not fond of the merged cells but that won't cause this.

Excel should be consuming 0% CPU after you open this file, if you do nothing but open the file. The fact that Excel is burning cycles on this file is an indicator that either the file is corrupt--but you said that even the template freezes for you, and I see no problem at all--or there is something else going on with Excel specific to your machine.

I do not have a lot of experience with this type of problem when it cannot be reproduced. I will see what else I can come up with, and also see if someone else around here can help.

**AliGW** · 06-29-2020, 09:42 AM

No issue here with CPU usage.

**alansidman** · 06-29-2020, 10:03 AM

Also opened without any issues. Opened almost instantly. Checked properties and is showing only 40.3 kb. which is a rather small file. No other unusual characteristics shown in the properties. When I open Task Manager, I have three excel files open and in total they consume 4% of my memory. Insignificant.