Introduction

This article explains why a compatible spreadsheet file cannot be opened with Excel after Microsoft Office update i.e. from 2010 to 2013 version.

Symptoms 

Manually open the files with the compatible program, in this scenario it will be Microsoft Excel. On "Open With" window, you have gone to the correct directly in "C:\Program Files (x86)\Microsoft Office\Office15" and look for "EXCEL.exe" to tell Windows that is the program you want to open the file with.


The "Open With" window does not picked the new version of Microsoft Excel 2013, and somehow Microsoft Excel 2007 is still in the list of "Open With" recommended programs.


After few attempts, you realised the "Open With" would not pick up the new 2013 of Excel even you specifically go to the new folder and specified the new directory.

Solutions 1 - Remove the programs in the "Open With" list in registry.

a. Start up registry editor (regedit.exe) on Run Command.


b. Delete the file extension folder.


c. Now open the file and use "Open With", choose Excel and see if the program picks it up or not. If not move on to Solution 2.

Solution 2 - Check Registry Program Directory

Ensure the directory of the program is looking for the right direction.

a. Start up registry editor (regedit.exe) on Run command.




In this scenario, it is EXCEL.EXE we are trying to resolve.

c. Expand the sub-keys like it shown above picture and you will see "command" key.

d. Check the Data and you should see the directory of where the EXCEL.EXE is point at.

In my case, it was set to point to the old EXCEL.EXE which is:

"C:\Program Files (x86)\Microsoft Office\Office12\EXCEL.EXE" "%1"

e. Now edit the directory by right clicking on the key and select "Modify".


f. The error has been found and now just change it to:

"C:\Program Files (x86)\Microsoft Office\Office15\EXCEL.EXE" "%1"


Make sure the directory is correct!


Final step: Restart the computer and re-open the file with default program.

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