Hello,

Been struggling with this for a while now on two separate machines in our environment. Same error logged on both machines. Event info from one of them below:

Log Name:      OAlerts

Source:        Microsoft Office 14 Alerts

Date:          5/5/2015 8:40:36 AM

Event ID:      300

Task Category: None

Level:         Information

Keywords:      Classic

User:          N/A

Computer:      prlap4-win7

Description:

Microsoft Excel

Unable to read file.

P1: 100106

P2: 14.0.6029.1000

P3:

P4:

I have compared the installation on these two machines to other machines on our network, and nothing is different. They did not start receiving the error at the same time, and are in different departments that do not work on the same information. The error occurs whether opening Excel from scratch, opening a new workbook from an open instance of Excel, or opening an existing workbook. The error is an annoyance, but does not prevent saving or any other functionality that we know of.

Others in their respective departments do not have this issue. I have tried Excel in safe mode, manually disabling all add-ins, clearing the XLSTART folder (nothing was there), and as of this afternoon, a complete uninstall/reinstall of Office 2010. Even after the uninstall/reinstall, the problem remains. Any help short of reimaging the laptops would be extremely helpful!

Thanks!

Hi Michael Sweitzer,

Based on your description, did you receive any other error messages after you click OK? This is an often issue, and there are different reasons for this issue.

Normally this issue occurs in particular file e.g. the excel workbook contains links to other excel workbooks or the excel workbook contains a PivotTable report. But your issue is strange, it even occurs in a new workbook. You have tried several methods, you even reinstall the office. But the issue still exists.

Now please try to clean up temp files. Most issues that involve excessive or corrupt temp files can be resolved by deleting the contents of temp folder. Here are the locations of temp folders in Windows:

C:\Users\<user>\AppData\Local\Temp

C:\Users\<user>\AppData\Local\Microsoft\Windows\Temporary Internet Files

C:\Windows\Temp

C:\Temp

If this issue still exists, please download the file to local computer, check if it opens without error messages. If it works fine in local computer, please check the network. You can create a new account with administrator permission to logon. This issue might also be caused by permission.

If this issue still exists please let me know, Im glad to help and forward to your reply.

Hope its helpful.

Regards,

Thank you for your insight George.Zhao. I finally have access to this machine later this afternoon and will attempt the fixes listed and report back my findings.

Appreciate your response!

Hi George,

Clearing the locations above did not resolve the issue. I also rebooted after clearing them. The issue only happens the first time the Excel application is opened. When a new workbook is opened inside the currently running instance of Excel 2010, it does not reproduce the error. If I open multiple instances of Excel.EXE then the error occurs each time I open the instance, then not again within that instance for any other actions that are performed.

Anything else on the Windows side that you can recommend?

Anyone have any further insight? Is there any tools that would allow me to see what file Excel is trying to open on Startup to narrow down the possible list of causes?

Hi Micheal. I have the same issue before. You need to check XLSTART folder again, make sure if there is a hidden folder under XLSTART folder named Book1.

BTW, there are 2 XLSTART folders in your computer. 

C:\Program Files\Microsoft Office\Office14\XLSTART
C:\Users\win7\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Excel\XLSTART

Then clean up the StartUp folder contain HIDDEN FILES. The path of START UP folder:

C:\Users\win7\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu\Programs\Startup

And you can also recreate the xlb file at the same time. you can rename the xlb file as Excel14.xlb.old and when you open the excel file it will recreate this xlb file automatically.
This xlb file under:
C:\Users\win7\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Excel

I fix this issue by clean up the STARTUP folder. :)

Hope it can also work for you.

• Edited by NULL2312 16 hours 42 minutes ago
• Proposed as answer by George.Zhao CHNMicrosoft contingent staff, Moderator 5 hours 1 minutes ago