I have files on an old version of MS Excel. When I tried to open it in a new computer, it wouldn't read it. What should I do?

A newer version of Excel should be able to open older Excel files.

What file type are they? .xls?
What version of Excel do you have installed now?
What error messages etc.. do you get when you try to open them?
Have you also changed the OS?

Excel should have given an error message of some kind which the MS site usually has help for. What was the message?

Sometimes there are compatability issues with older versions of programs when we try to open them with newer versions. I would suggest going to the microsoft site and checking whether this is the case. If it is they would have developed a patch that would overcome the problem you are having.

make sure you saved your excel for compatibility mode, that should enable the new excel to open the old one. Good luck.

I have a windows 98 machine around with office 97 installed I woul dbe happy to get rid of if it is that important...

i got the same problem with it. i need my old files back. What I do is i upload them on google docs. You can do this if you dont have the new version

I've had the same problem. Once I start using software I hate to upgrade computers or operating systems because of this. So if it ain't broke, I don't fix it. If can can find someone with an intermediate version of Excel you may be able to step the files up to that version and then step them up to your current version.

I moved to the new version of Excel but my files are .xls. Until now I had no problem to open them and to convert them into the new excel format. By the way, I didn't hear anyone having problems with it.

You should try a newer version of Excel

I would suggest going to microsoft's website and looking for updates or installations that could deal with compatibility issues. Or if really needed search google or download.com for a software that allows to open older files of Excel. Good Luck!

I've been having the same issues so thanks for the info.

When I switched from Office 2003 to Office 2007 I had to download a file converter from the Microsoft website that converted the 2003 version into readable files for version 2007. One would have to believe that such a converter exists for the excel program as well?