"Excel Found Unreadable Content" error

[bill_ohio]

My wife has a file that worked a week ago, and now gives the "Excel found unreadable content in Book_Name" error. Clicking "yes", opens the repaired file, but content has now changed.

The file contained over 50 cells in Column A that had a comment formatted to display a picture, instead of a message. All the comments have been removed. The explanation of the repairs is given in the following, which I do not understand:

<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8" standalone="yes" ?>
- <recoveryLog xmlns="http://schemas.openxmlformats.org/spreadsheetml/2006/main">
<logFileName>error016400_01.xml</logFileName>
<summary>Errors were detected in file 'C:\Documents and Settings\Arlene\My Documents\Flora_Fauna_Dates_COPY.xlsx'</summary>
- <removedParts summary="Following is a list of removed parts:">
<removedPart>Removed Part: /xl/drawings/vmlDrawing1.vml part. (Drawing shape)</removedPart>
</removedParts>
- <removedRecords summary="Following is a list of removed records:">
<removedRecord>Removed Records: Comments from /xl/comments1.xml part (Comments)</removedRecord>
</removedRecords>
</recoveryLog>

Everything I have been able to find on any other message board, including Microsoft, points to an error with Pivot Tables, but this file doesn't have any.

I did find a hotfix on the Microsoft site (KB Article Number: 956836) that I am somewhat hesitant to use.

Any ideas? Does anyone need more information? My wife would greatly appreciate the assistance - this is way beyond me!

thanks in advance,

Bill

 

[silkfire]

Try sending the file to me (removed) and I'll see what I can do.
Has the file been modified after being opened? Send me the unmodified file, even if opening it will strip it from the pictures in the comments.

 

[bill_ohio]

Thanks! I'll send as soon as I quit here. The file was last saved April 6, when it worked fine. Each time we opened it today, we closed without saving.

Bill

 

[NateO]

Hello,

I did find a hotfix on the Microsoft site (KB Article Number: 956836) that I am somewhat hesitant to use.

Why are you hesitant to use said hotfix?

 

[silkfire]

Bill I just opened your document and I can state that all the images within the comments are still there, so what is the problem really?

 

[bill_ohio]

Gabriel,

I received your email before I checked here. There are no images in the first tab, "wildflowers", but there were on April 6.

thanks.

 

[bill_ohio]

NateO -

I'm reluctant to use the "hotfix" because I wasn't sure if all the specific situations applied directly to my situation. I didn't want to make a bad situation even worse. The hotfix was not recent, and I have downloaded all the critical updates that Microsoft sends out.

Bill

 

[silkfire]

Bill does your wife still have the images on the harddrive? Or is it too tedious remaking the first sheet page?

 

[bill_ohio]

Gabriel,

The issue now is one of being a pain in the rear to rebuild, and the fear that the same thing may happen again. Since we don't really know what caused this, we're not sure what to do. (and, unfortunately, most of the images were found by searching the internet, and she didn't keep a copy)

thanks again,
Bill

 

[silkfire]

She didn't keep a copy of them?

No problem, I have them here. I found 2 advanced XLSX repairing utilities online but they cost about $60 and I don't think it's worth the effort buying them, they are called Recovery Toolbox for Excel and Stellar Phoenix Excel Recovery.