The server application, source file, or item can't be found, or returned an unknown error. You may need to reinstall the server application

Question

_{Friday, July 26, 2019 8:50 AM}

I received a ppt with a embedded excel, but always the same error when trying to open the file

The server application, source file, or item can't be found, or returned an unknown error. You may need to reinstall the server application

I tried reinstalling (Microsoft Office 2016) and deleting office folder but still same issue persist. All search and "potential solution" yield no result. Anybody encountered same issue and have any solution? 

Point to note - Other system is able to open the embedded file 

Tried solution but same issue persist

1. Repairing Office 2016
2. Deleting Office 2016 folder and reinstalling
3. regsvr32 %systemroot%\system32\ole32.dll in CMD

All replies (2)

_{Monday, July 29, 2019 8:05 AM}

Hi Alvin,

I am confused about you said:” Other system is able to …”, what is the “Other system” please? What are the versions of Office if they can open this Excel file normally?

Is the Excel file is inserted as a link? In this case, the Excel file needs to be copy to your computer too and re-link the Excel file. Otherwise, there is just a picture as a shortcut to the Excel file. If it is inserted as an object, you can refer to the following steps please.

1. You can open the PowerPoint in safe mode (Type the “powerpnt /safe” in Run dialog ), then open the slide and try to open the embedded Excel file again. If the Excel file can be opened, you can disable the add-ins and macros of PowerPoint.

2. If it is failure to open the embedded Excel file in the safe mode of PowerPoint. You should back up the ppt first.

(1) Then open the ppt and try to right-click the embedded Excel file, click Worksheet Object > Convert, then convert to Microsoft Excel 97-2003 Worksheet. Using the compatibility mode format can resolve the issues of opening a high version of Office editing file from a lower version of Office. 

(2) Here is a workaround about your situation (back up the ppt first): save the ppt in .pptx format, then you can change the file extension, like this: Test1.pptx.zip.

Then extract the compressed file, open the unzipped folder and open the following folders in order: ppt > embeddings. Do not open the Excel file directly, we should right-click the Excel file, select Open with Internet Explorer, Open, at last save the file to the location on your computer you want in Excel.

(3) Add a new system account (for win10, win8.1 and win7) to test. This can rule out some settings for Office.

(4) In addition, it needs to consider some software conflicts with Office. Such as the anti-virus programs, these can cause many problems with Office operation. You can try to disable it temporarily. You can also perform a clean boot in Windows.

If you have any question or update, please feel free to let me know.

Best regards,

Herb

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_{Tuesday, August 6, 2019 6:33 AM}

Hi,

I am checking the status of this issue. Do you have any update for it?

If my reply is helpful to this question, please remember to mark it as answer. Your action would be helpful to other users who encounter the same issue and read this thread. Thanks for your understanding.

Anything unclear or any questions, feel free to post them back to let us know. I will be glad to follow up and help you.

Best Regards,

Herb

Please remember to mark the replies as answers if they helped. If you have feedback for TechNet Subscriber Support, contact [email protected].

Click here to learn more. Visit the dedicated forum to share, explore and talk to experts about Microsoft Office 2019.