Have you tried first opening Excel and then opening the file from Excel? I
ask because it sounds like you're trying to open the file using a shortcut to
it or by double-clicking the file's name in the file browser.

You might also try going to Tools -- Options and then either checking or
clearing the "Ignore other applications" on the [General] tab in the options
dialog.

"kags" wrote:

Howdy, I am trying to open up a excel spreadsheet but when I do Excel opens
and there is nothing there. No workbook, just excel opening with a grey
screen. He was working on the file, quit out of it and this happened when he
tried to access it again.

Have restarted comp but that was pretty much all I knew to do :P