If you're using xl2002 or higher, turn on AutoRecovery.

It actually saves a copy of the workbook and will recover from a crash (excel or
windows).

(From a previous post:)

But xl2k (and previous versions) offers an autosave function--used it to
save your files at regular timed intervals.

As an alternative, you may want to consider using Jan Karel Pieterse's addin
called AutoSafe (note spelling).

It doesn't overwrite the existing workbook when it saves. It saves to a user
selectable folder. And when it's done, it either deletes these backups (or puts
them in the recycle bin). And the user can always restore the backups from the
recycle bin.

http://www.jkp-ads.com/Download.htm
(look for AutoSafe.zip, not autosafeVBE.zip, for your purposes.)

Jan Karel's version will know if there was a crash and prompt you to open the
last version it saved.

======
Actually Jan Karel's program will work with xl2002+, too.

Marty wrote:

How do I have excel save a copy every _ minutes ONLY in the event of a crash?

--

Dave Peterson