Microsoft Excel .xls corruption?

Question

The file opens up and is viewable it's just the font is all misc symbols... Like a couple random @ symbols and boxes as if the font isn't there... But I made it in the standard Arial font. I don't understand why it got corrupt when I saved it as a normal file...

I can't get it to go back to the font I saved it as. I mean, it's still Arial, but just butchered symbols...


How can I fix this!? Thanks in advance! =)

Tried the CTRL+C and Paste Special (Values) It didn't work. Any other thoughts?

I can't find the Clean function on EXCEL 2007

Answer 1

Give this a whirl -- hope it helps:

* Highlight all your data in this worksheet
* Ctrl-C to copy it
* Open a new worksheet
* Click Edit -> Paste Special -> Values

See if that helps. It's the best I can think of if you have already made sure that the font is Arial. Good luck!

======= updated =========

sorry the CTRL-C thing didn't work out. It really sounds like a virus corrupted it. Try scanning it with a virus scan product like Norton or McAfee. There are some free ones on the web -- check www.cnet.com and go to downloads for them. I had that happen to me last year and I had a killer of a virus. I lost everything I had on that PC that wasn't backed up. I have an iMac now ... no worries since. I hope you find something that works so you don't lose your file. It sucks when that happens.

Answer 2

You can download ccleaner for free here: http://bit.ly/1Bk5V5C

First open CCleaner
Go to the Cleaner tab and you will be confronted by a very confusing lineup of checkboxes.
To make this brief, below is my recommended setup:
Under internet explorer check temporary internet files, cookies, and last download location. Most users don't really need this stuff. keep history and bookmarks unchecked, history is a maybe, but you don't want to lose bookmarked sites. You can normally leave Windows Explorer, System, and Advanced alone.
Run CCleaner and it will start deleting files.
afterward it will present you with a list of the files deleted, you really don't need to go through it as it will be several pages long.
The registry cleaner is recommended for slightly more advanced users. Use it after uninstalling programs as they will often leave behind incorrect registry entries.
If you decide to run Registry cleaner then review the items detected and always back up the registry (I keep a folder aside for this)
The Tools tab lets you uninstall programs and set startup programs. Why do you need this if Windows has all of these features? Especially with Vista Home Ed. The windows defender software explorer( startup programs) doesn't pick up some entries (however software explorer is easier to use).
Using CCleaner to uninstall programs and then check for leftover registry entries takes less time.
Under Options you can determine how CCleaner cleans your files. I leave this alone.

Answer 3

You might try the CLEAN function in Excel. Just use the formula in a new worksheet to reference the cells that have the bad looking data. I ran across this function a week or two ago.

Here's what Microsoft Excel Help says:

"Removes all nonprintable characters from text. Use CLEAN on text imported from other applications that contains characters that may not print with your operating system. For example, you can use CLEAN to remove some low-level computer code that is frequently at the beginning and end of data files and cannot be printed."

Answer 4

i don't understand why it would be doing this unless you saved it from a different version of excel and tried to open it on a older version?