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After sometime can't open files

After some use after a restart of my MacBook Pro I am no longer able to open files. These files are typically Word , Excel or PDF files located on my hard drive. I have tried opening in the apps and from Finder - no difference

Sometimes I get an error message "the file xxxxx can't be opened" other times nothing happens. It depends on the app I am using (or time of day :-().

I am running Catalina version 10.15.1

Strangely if I restart the Mac, everything springs back into life.

I have tried rebooting in Safe Mode and all seems fine, but as a reboot seems to removes the problem for a while, this seems inconclusive.

I note that if I copy the non-opening file onto a memory stick I can open it there.

Any thoughts

Thanks

Bob

Seems like the file system gets twisted?

MacBook Pro 13", macOS 10.15

Posted on Dec 18, 2019 9:01 AM

Reply
Question marked as Top-ranking reply

Posted on Dec 18, 2019 10:46 AM

archerybob wrote:
These files are typically Word , Excel or PDF files located on my hard drive.
I have tried opening in the apps and from Finder - no difference
ometimes I get an error message "the file xxxxx can't be opened" other times nothing happens. It depends on the app I am using (or time of day :-().
I am running Catalina version 10.15.1
Strangely if I restart the Mac, everything springs back into life.

I have tried rebooting in Safe Mode and all seems fine, but as a reboot seems to removes the problem for a while, this seems inconclusive.
I note that if I copy the non-opening file onto a memory stick I can open it there.

Seems like the file system gets twisted?

MacBookPro, mid 2012, 13 inch



First I would verify your software is up to date.


Office for Mac running macOS Catalina

If you have Office 2011 for Mac or before WILL NOT run.


Office 2016 for Mac needs to be v15.35 or later.

Update the software or try an alternative for word documents—

https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/officeupdates/update-history-office-for-mac


The current Office for Mac; Office 365 or Office 2019 (One-time purchase) are OK with Catalina

https://support.office.com/en-us/article/how-do-i-upgrade-office-ee68f6cf-422f-464a-82ec-385f65391350

https://products.office.com/en-us/compare-all-microsoft-office-products?&activetab=tab:primaryr1



With that said and verified—

To get a good look at your System config. for conflicts or issues, you can run this utility http://etrecheck.com  


If you need help interpreting the report you can post it here in its entirety in the "Additional Text" box in the editing toolbar below, in your reply.


You can set its preference to "Allow full Disk Access",  with this you get a digest of issues from the last 7 days that are saved in your system.

Similar questions

7 replies
Question marked as Top-ranking reply

Dec 18, 2019 10:46 AM in response to archerybob

archerybob wrote:
These files are typically Word , Excel or PDF files located on my hard drive.
I have tried opening in the apps and from Finder - no difference
ometimes I get an error message "the file xxxxx can't be opened" other times nothing happens. It depends on the app I am using (or time of day :-().
I am running Catalina version 10.15.1
Strangely if I restart the Mac, everything springs back into life.

I have tried rebooting in Safe Mode and all seems fine, but as a reboot seems to removes the problem for a while, this seems inconclusive.
I note that if I copy the non-opening file onto a memory stick I can open it there.

Seems like the file system gets twisted?

MacBookPro, mid 2012, 13 inch



First I would verify your software is up to date.


Office for Mac running macOS Catalina

If you have Office 2011 for Mac or before WILL NOT run.


Office 2016 for Mac needs to be v15.35 or later.

Update the software or try an alternative for word documents—

https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/officeupdates/update-history-office-for-mac


The current Office for Mac; Office 365 or Office 2019 (One-time purchase) are OK with Catalina

https://support.office.com/en-us/article/how-do-i-upgrade-office-ee68f6cf-422f-464a-82ec-385f65391350

https://products.office.com/en-us/compare-all-microsoft-office-products?&activetab=tab:primaryr1



With that said and verified—

To get a good look at your System config. for conflicts or issues, you can run this utility http://etrecheck.com  


If you need help interpreting the report you can post it here in its entirety in the "Additional Text" box in the editing toolbar below, in your reply.


You can set its preference to "Allow full Disk Access",  with this you get a digest of issues from the last 7 days that are saved in your system.

Dec 19, 2019 3:56 PM in response to archerybob

archerybob wrote:
Anyway, everything is up to date.



Your System Software: < macOS Catalina 10.15.1> is not up to date:


Update using the combo update and see if anything improves.

Download macOS Catalina 10.15.2 Combo Update


This is a curiosity —

<I have tried rebooting in Safe Mode and all seems fine, but as a reboot seems to removes the problem for a while, this seems inconclusive.>

After sometime can't open files

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