Excel - Opens with Error or Cannot Open XLS or XLSX File

Microsoft Excel 2007 or 2010 will occasionally display the following message when attempting to open an .XLS or .XLSX file :
Windows cannot find ‘FilePath\FileName’, Make sure you typed the name correctly, and then try again.
This error message usually appears when a user attempts to open a file by Double-Clicking on it or directly from a web browser or e-mail attachment.
Long Term Solution

1. Open Microsoft Excel.
2. Click on the File (Office) Menu and select Excel Options.
3. Click Advanced.
4. Scroll down to the General section and uncheck ‘Ignore other applications’.
5. Click OK.

 


Short Term Solution

1. Open Microsoft Excel.
2. Click on File and select Open.
3. Locate the File, select it, and click Open.

Reason
When a file is double-clicked, a dynamic data exchange (DDE) message is sent to Microsoft Excel, telling it to open the file. If the ‘Ignore other applications’ box is checked, Excel ignores these messages sent by other programs (such as web browsers or e-mail clients). The file is then not opened.