Excel - This file is already in use / Not enough resources to open this file

[DigiBen]

Got a weird problem in one of my schools where the school admin will open an excel file on the network, but be told its already open or that there are not enough resources to open the file.

 

No one else has the file open in the last couple of days, and the PC itself is fine for resources. I cant see any issues on the server, and this is an ethernet connection. Can anyone suggest where is best to look for the cause?

[Sagima]

Not a lot to go on but my first guess will be this is some huge spreadsheet which 32bit excel won't open but 64bit might (its file size might not reflect it's working size)

 

I'm assuming you've tried opening it yourself on both your own and their computer to the same error?

[jonspurs]

Had the same problem. I figured it out to be the PREVIEW PANE in Windows. So, when you're looking through folders and select a file, if preview pane is on the right, it is 'opened'. Turn off preview pane.

[Explorer]

Had the same problem. I figured it out to be the PREVIEW PANE in Windows. So, when you're looking through folders and select a file, if preview pane is on the right, it is 'opened'. Turn off preview pane.

 

Good info, useful.

[sparkeh]

Yeah I've had something similar. Turned out that the spreadsheet was zoomed out to a ridiculous level. I could open it on a machine with more RAM and zoomed back in to 100% and it would open on the other machine again.