I have a problem with a Spreadsheet that will not display Font or Background colors for one particular user.  If the spreadsheet is moved to a different machine running 2010 or to a different user on the same machine, it works perfectly.

I have tried repairing Office 2010,  and also deleting

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Office\14.0\Excel

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Office\14.0\Excel

but alas the spreadsheet only displays in black and white. Note: Graphs do display in color

Suggestions would be appreciated

Hi,

Did you get the situation like this

If yes, this issue might be caused by the DDE option, please clear it. Steps:

1.Click the File tab, and then click Options.
2.Click Advanced, scroll down to the General section, and then clear the Ignore other applications that use Dynamic Data Exchange (DDE) check box in the General area.
3.Click OK.

If this issue still exists, I suppose the particular user profile is corrupted. Please try to remove all the temps to test.

Hope it's helpful.

Regards,

George Zhao
TechNet Community Support

Hi The Lead Dog,

According to your description, did the user get the issuer as shown in the following figure?

If yes, please check if the accessibility option is set to high contrast.

Please try the following steps:

In Control Panel:

1. Be sure you are in Classic View (all Control Panel icons are showing).
2. If not, under Control Panel in the left pane, select Switch to Classic View.
3. Select Accessibility Options.

In the Accessibility Options dialog box:

1. Select the Display tab.
2. On the Display tab:

Clear the Use High Contrast check box and Select OK twice to save your settings and close the dialog boxes.

And this issue also might be caused by Excel is running in compatibility mode and Customized operating system theme is selected.

For Excel is running in compatibility mode:

1. Browse to the following location: C:\Program Files\Microsoft Office\Office 14.
2. Locate the file excel.exe.
3. Right click on the file and then click on the properties option.
4. Click on the compatibility tab.
5. Uncheck Run this program in compatibility mode for checkbox and click Ok. Try to open the excel file which had color issue and check the cell colors.

For Customized operating system theme is selected :

Try to change the theme to default theme (preferably Windows XP), as your operating system theme applied may be the cause of the problem.

Hop its helpful.

Regards,

Here is what happens with a new spreadsheet

 Regarding the Excel.exe    The compatibility tab is unchecked

Ideas?

Hi The Lead Dog,

Based on your shown figure, your excel works in normal environment. Have you ever tried to open the excel file in save moe? You can try to open the file in save mde, and check if the issue is still exsits.

I suggest you can recreate an .xlb file in your computer.

XLB is a setting file format created by Microsoft Excel. XLB files contain custom settings for the toolbars (or command bars). XLB files can contain information such as which toolbars are visible, their position, and their function. XLB files can contain information such as which toolbars are visible, their position, and their function. XLB files allow for the transfer of customization information between computers and users.

For recreating an .xlb file, try the following method now:

1. Go to the path in your own computer as shown in the following figure:
   
   
2. Rename the *.xlb to *.old
3. Restart Excel and it will create a new *.xlb file

Then, please check whether the method is helpful. And notice that if you delete or rename *.xlb file, the settings of custom toolbars will lost.

Hope it's hepful,

Regards,

Hi The Lead Dog,

Based on your shown figure, your excel works in normal environment. Have you ever tried to open the excel file in save moe? You can try to open the file in save mde, and check if the issue is still exsits.

I suggest you can recreate an .xlb file in your computer.

XLB is a setting file format created by Microsoft Excel. XLB files contain custom settings for the toolbars (or command bars). XLB files can contain information such as which toolbars are visible, their position, and their function. XLB files can contain information such as which toolbars are visible, their position, and their function. XLB files allow for the transfer of customization information between computers and users.

For recreating an .xlb file, try the following method now:

1. Go to the path in your own computer as shown in the following figure:
   
   
2. Rename the *.xlb to *.old
3. Restart Excel and it will create a new *.xlb file

Then, please check whether the method is helpful. And notice that if you delete or rename *.xlb file, the settings of custom toolbars will lost.

Hope it's hepful,

Regards,

• Proposed as answer by George.Zhao CHNMicrosoft contingent staff, Moderator Tuesday, May 05, 2015 6:57 AM

That solved the problem once. It doesn't work now unfortunately I have gone as far as completely removing the Appdata directories for excel and letting the application rebuild them cleanly I am at a loss seeing that this spreadsheet works for me in 2010 on either windows 7 and 8.1. This problem is basically on hold while the user is on vacation the next two weeks Thank you so much for your ideas Chuck