Opening an Excel File

Hi, SummitNJUser

See MS Forum for many similar issues regarding that error message

http://answers.microsoft.com/en-us/mac/forum/macoffice2008-macexcel/error-messag e-the-file-might-have-been-damaged-or/0aed62a8-c9da-4c13-9583-681a1e657e37

In that old thread there is an answer by a moderator that may help you:

A system hang while Excel has files open is indeed a problem. From what you are telling us, you are able to open the damaged files and Excel attempts to repair them, but the repair is not successful and you are again prompted to repair when opening the files even after repair and saving.

Essential files should be backed up. I presume you are not using Time Machine, else you would have gone back a few minutes and restored the previously saved versions of these files. If you do have Time Machine, find the most recently saved versions and go forward with those.

Since you can get these files open with the repair feature, you might try saving these in a different format. I've had good luck saving .xlsx as Macro Enabled workbook (.xlsm) even though there are no macros. When I open the resulting .xlsm the corruption is gone and I can use Save As and go back to (.xlsx) or (.xlsb) and everything is well. Try that and see how it goes.

SummitNJUser, Key word in that answer is BACKUP. Also, another standard answer I give is to BACKUP and then reinstall MS Office.

To do that first - find your Office 2011 install disc with the product key # - and only then remove Office according to MS instructions

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/2398768

Or go here to DianefromOregon's site for help removing Office 2011:

http://www.officeformachelp.com/2012/12/office-for-mac-2011-remove-office/

Then Reinstall from DVD

Then enter your Product #

After successfully reinstalling Office 2011, update your Office product using the Software update within Office called Microsoft Update or going to the Help menu within Word or Excel or PowerPoint and select Update.

It may take a few times before you get to final upgrade to current Office version.

It should be 14.4.8 as of current date.

How to locate product keys

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/2279109

or here on locating product keys

http://office.about.com/od/MicrosoftOfficeMac/a/Best-3-Ways-To-Find-Microsoft-Of fice-For-Mac-Key-Codes.htm

Note is updated as of March 5, 2015