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Summary: If you are facing Excel file corruption and inaccessibility issues, many basic methods are available. Our blog outlines these basic resolutions namely saving in HTML format, using the Repair option, changing the calculator option to manual, etc. For quicker and more effective troubleshooting, you must opt for Kernel for Excel Repair and fix all the Excel related issues with ease.

Inaccessibility problems with Excel files frequently occur when the system cannot locate the file due to corruption. The extent of corruption determines whether the content within the MS Excel file will remain intact. This situation leaves the user in a quandary regarding the file’s security. To recover the necessary MS Excel file, users often explore various solutions that claim to restore the file’s content. Nevertheless, there are built-in Excel features that can assist in retrieving inaccessible Excel file data, and numerous third-party tools are also available for Excel data recovery.

Before discussing the solutions, you must get yourself introduced to the Excel file error.

Possible reasons for Excel file corruption

Excel files are considered corrupted when the system is unable to read them, leading to the display of “inaccessibility” errors. Various factors can contribute to the corruption of MS Excel files, including:

  • Virus attacks or other malicious software
  • Abrupt shutdown of the Excel application
  • Sudden Power Failure
  • Hard drive issues
  • Compatibility issues

The reasons mentioned above are common causes of Excel file corruption. When users encounter corrupted Excel files, it is important for them to take prompt action to recover their data.

Following the introduction to the issue of Excel file corruption, it’s time to introduce a reliable solution that excels in rectifying these issues seamlessly.

Effective methods for recovering corrupt MS Excel files

Microsoft offers some near-to-perfect solutions to Recover Unsaved or Overwritten Excel Files. These solutions include:

  • Save file in HTML format

and

  • Use of “Open” and “Repair” command
Method 1- Workbook recovery to HTML format

Saving the Excel file to HTML format is often regarded as one of the simplest methods for recovering data from a corrupted Excel file. The steps to perform HTML format recovery are as follows:

  1. Open the Excel file.
  2. Move to Save As and expand the Save as type quick list.Blog-Excel Sheet Repair 2-2016
  1. Select webpage from possible file formats
  2. Select Web Page as the file format. Ensure about selection of Entire Workbook and then click on Save buttonBlog-Excel Sheet Repair 2-2137
  1. Now, locate the recovered file.
  2. Select the file, right-click and choose Open with>Microsoft Excel.Blog-Excel Sheet Repair 2-2229
  1. Now, go to Save As and choose Excel format from the dropdown.
  2. Change the title of the file to avoid confusion and click Save.

On most occasions, the above mentioned excel file repair method saves you from the problem of inaccessibility of MS Excel files.

Method 2- Open and Repair Method

You can use the “Open” and “Repair” command as an alternative method. This method simply uses an open and repair strategy to retain the entire content from the corrupt Excel file. The strategy followed by this tool is as follows:

  1. Click File > Open.
  2. Open the location where the corrupt file is located.
  3. From the Open dialog box, select the corrupt workbook
  4. Now, click Open and Repair.Blog-Excel Sheet Repair 2-3028
  1. To gain maximum data, select Repair option
Method 3 – Change the calculation option to manual

In Excel, every time a formula or value is changed, all formulas in the workbook are recalculated. It can take a long time to open a large spreadsheet if formulas need to be recalculated. You may also encounter situations when you cannot open your workbook. Set the calculation option to manual instead of automatic to resolve the Excel inaccessibility problem. Here is pow:

  1. Open Excel and tap to the FIle menu. Click on Options.
  2. From the Excel Options, select Formulas.
  3. Within Workbook Calculation, set the option to Manual and hit OK.
Method 4 – Save your Excel file in another format

When you are unable to access corrupt Excel files, one way to fix the issue can be to change the file format. Simple but effective, this solution should be your method. Here is how to carry out this process.

  1. Open the Excel file. Click on the File menu and then click on the option Save As.
  2. Click Browse and then Save as Type.
  3. Select the desired Excel file format and tap on Save.
Method 5 – Recover to the previously saved file version

If your present Excel file is inaccessible, you can look to restore it to its previous version. Follow the steps given below.

  1. Access your Excel file and tap on the File menu.
  2. Go to Manage Workbook
  3. Click on the Restore option.

All the methods mentioned above can yield excellent results in recovering data from corrupted Excel files. The choice of which method to use often depends on the severity of the corruption. While these built-in methods can successfully retrieve data from moderately corrupted Excel files, highly corrupt files may not always be recoverable through these means. Additionally, if there are numerous Excel files to recover, the data recovery process can be time-consuming.

In such cases, using a specialized third-party Excel file recovery tool can be a more efficient and reliable solution. These tools are designed to handle a wide range of corruption scenarios and can often recover data from severely corrupted Excel files quickly and accurately. Therefore, for quick and precise Excel file recovery, especially when dealing with highly corrupted files or a large volume of files, it is advisable to consider using a dedicated Excel recovery tool.

Conclusion

Recovering Excel files using built-in tools can indeed be straightforward for many common corruption issues. However, as you correctly mentioned, highly corrupt or severely damaged Excel files may not be recoverable through these methods alone.

Professional third-party Excel recovery tools are designed to provide comprehensive solutions for all types of Excel data loss situations, including highly corrupted files. These specialized tools often have advanced algorithms and features that can handle even the most challenging cases of corruption, ensuring a higher success rate in data recovery.

So, when dealing with Excel files that are severely damaged or in scenarios where built-in methods fail to retrieve your data, it’s wise to turn to professional Excel recovery tools for a more robust and reliable solution. These tools can help you recover your data effectively and efficiently, regardless of the extent of file corruption.

Kernel for Excel Repair