I have a user with an ongoing issue with the following error message in Excel 2013:

There isn't enough memory to complete this action.
Try Using Less data or closing other applications.
To increase memory availability, consider:
-Using a 64-bit version of Microsoft Excel.
-Adding memory to your device.

History...

This error used to be on a Windows 7 Professional 64-bit system with 32-bit Office 2013.  The office is on a WAN connection to the server via a VPN connection.  

They have both xlsx and xls files that are sitting on a Windows 2008 R2 server across the WAN.

User uses preview pane in Windows Explorer.

The problem is intermittent.

The files are small - most less than 100K.

User might have 3 or 4 spreadsheets open at once.  All small files.

The problem occurs many times when opening a file directly as an Outlook attachment, but also happens during a file/open procedure.

Troubleshooting and changes included:

1.  Advanced Option:  Disable hardware graphics acceleration  (nope!)

2.  Advanced Option:  Ignore other applications that use DDE (turned off, but turned back on so Outlook worked properly).

3.  Upgraded system to 64-bit office.

4.  Turned off Kaspersky EndPoint Protection 10 for a week (uninstalled the software) to see if it was an antivirus problem.  (nope!)

5.  Actually replaced with a new computer with Windows 8.1, 8 GB RAM and Office 2013 64-bit.  PROBLEM CONTINUES...

6.  Problem ALSO occurs on remote terminal server (2008 r2 with 64-bit Office 2013), but infrequently.

I have followed these and other recommendations for this error that I have found over the past few months to no avail.  The firewall that ran the VPN was also replaced recently.  

Anyone have any suggestions?  

Thank you,

David Cheyette
Seattle



• Moved by Fei XueMicrosoft contingent staff 2 hours 3 minutes ago

Hi David Cheyette,

Thanks for posting in MSDN forum.

This forum is for developers discussing developer issues involve Excel application.

Since the issue is more relative to end-user, I would like to move it to Excel IT pro forum.

The reason why we recommend posting appropriately is you will get the most qualified pool of respondents, and other partners who read the forums regularly can either share their knowledge or learn from your interaction with us.

Thanks for your understanding.

Regards & Fei