From “File Corrupt” to “File Perfect” – Fix Excel Online

To run a small business smoothly, I rely on multiple tools for different processes like tracking sales, marketing, customer service, etc. However, there is one essential software – MS Excel.

It helps me collate data in a single place and use filters & formulas to manage the raw data. But the best part of it is the data interpretation – which uses different charts to interpret raw data and present it graphically.

I’ve been working on Excel sheets for quite some time, and there is one thing I noticed. As my Excel files became large (due to formulas, macros, pivot tables, graphs, and other objects), their performance was affected. Initially, I overlooked the issue and blamed my system’s aging RAM for the performance drop and occasional system stall while opening a large Excel workbook.

I upgraded the RAM, thinking it would improve the performance and help me open large Excel files quickly. But nothing significantly improved. And one day, while I was trying to open an important workbook, my system stalled, and crashed. After restarting the system, I tried to open the same Excel file again, but instead, I received an unexpected dialog box on the screen stating Excel file is corrupted and cannot be opened.

This made me anxious as the file contained important data. Additionally, I didn’t have any backup copy to restore it.

This error made me wonder….

Why My Excel File Got Corrupted?

My speculation was that the system crash must have corrupted my file. To get clarity, I looked on various forums discussing reasons behind Excel file corruption. There, I found many reasons including system crash that could result in Excel file corruption.

Here is a list of some prominent reasons behind Excel file corruption:

• Incomplete file write due to abrupt shutdown
• Unexpected power loss while working on a spreadsheet
• Sudden system or application crash
• Improper file transfer from one device to another
• Bad sectors on the hard drive can corrupt or damage the Excel file
• A malware attack on the system
• Bad links and references in an inherited Excel file
• Network outage while working on a shared Excel workbook

As the unexpected system crash was on the list, I checked the event viewer on my Windows PC and found a log for the latest system crash, which happened around the same time when I was working on my Excel file. This confirmed my speculation. My Excel file got corrupted due to an abrupt system shutdown.

Is There a Quick Solution to Fix Corrupt Excel Files?

The next part was to find a quick and reliable solution to fix my corrupt Excel file. A simple web search led me to a long list of websites that could repair my corrupt Excel file. The list was overwhelming and confusing. Moreover, I was also apprehensive about using a random tool as my file contained essential data.

I read the reviews for the top 3 online Excel file repair websites before using them.

• Excel.Repair
• Aspose Online Excel File Repair Tool
• Stellar Repair for Excel Online

Luckily, I was able to repair Excel file online using the first tool and access my data. I also tested the remaining online tools to check their effectiveness. I found the above tools to be quick and easy to use. The steps to repair an Excel file online are straightforward, too. I observed one thing with this software – the steps are quite similar.

Here is a general outline of how an online Excel file repair tool works:

Step 1: The user registers on the website.

Note – Some websites don’t require a registration. They allow users to simply upload the Excel file and repair it.

Step 2: Upload the corrupted Excel file.

Step 3: Click on Repair.

Step 4: Download the repaired Excel file.

As they are online tools, users are not required to download and install them on their systems. Hence, they are ideal for students and professionals who are looking for a quick way to repair their Excel files for free without installing additional software.

Key Takeaways

I learned a few things from this unfortunate exercise. I have compiled them so that you, too, can follow the points below and prevent data loss due to Excel file corruption.

• The AutoSave feature in MS Excel is a small but useful feature that should be enabled.
• AutoSave feature should not be solely relied upon.
• An Excel file should be saved manually after making minor changes.
• UPS comes in handy in case of unexpected power cuts. This gives additional time to save the file and properly close it.
• Data backups go a long way. Take periodic backups of important files on external HDD and cloud storage.

Final Words

Excel file corruption is one of the significant reasons behind data loss. Online Excel file repair tools offer a quick and simple solution to fix damaged or corrupted Excel files without any hiccups. Moreover, users are not required to download anything to use these tools. Hence, they are great for all kinds of users, such as students, professionals, teachers, etc.

While such tools are there to help us out, you should try to avoid situations that could result in data loss due to Excel file corruption. You can do this by following the tips mentioned above in the blog.