Excel files will not open because live scan does not complete

[Happyas51]

I have Office 2013. It was operating normally until recently. Now when I try to open many Excel files I see the running virus scan notice, but it never completes and opens the file. I have made sure Mcafee Total Protection and Office 2013 are up to date.

[sivasubramanian]

@Happyas51 

Please share the McAfee version that is installed on your computer. Also, from when you have noticed this issue.

Regards
Siva N

[Miko1]

I have McAfee LiveSafe Version 16.0 (16.0 R35) and Excel 2013 (same issue with Excel 2010)

[Miko1]

This started happening yesturday

[Miko1]

This is the 3rd PC and I think the last one has Excel 2016

[sivasubramanian]

@Miko1 

Please let us know from when you have noticed this issue and the McAfee version that is installed on your PC. Also share the error screenshot pertaining to the issue.

Regards
Siva N

[p8er]

There are 2 more topics about this issue: 

McAfee Support Community - Live Safe is stopping Excel opening files with err... - Page 2 - McAfee S...

and 

McAfee Support Community - Mcafee Real Time Scanning not allowing Excel & Wor... - McAfee Support Co...

A simple workaround that works for me: 

Temporarily stop running Real Time Scanning, then open a new, empty Excel file, then immediately turn Real Time Scanning back on, and keep that empty Excel file open all day long, and don't use it. Any other Excel files you now open while you already have an Excel file open, will not be affected by the issue.

[TArnold1]

Hi @p8er 

I tried your suggestion, and I was not able to experience the same success.  I disabled VirusScan, launched a blank xlsx, turned on VirusScan, launched the xlsx I was hoping to use, and ran into the same OLE error.

For me, at least, the only solution has been to disable VirusScan while I'm working on my spreadsheets.  Luckily, I can structure my activities to focus just on internal spreadsheets and leave VirusScan off, then turn it back on when I'm finished and doing other computer activities.

[p8er]

That's a shame, @TArnold1 ... sorry to have gotten your hopes up 😞

[JC2]

I'm on McAfee Total Protection and having the same issue with Excel not opening any of my Excel files and Excel rendering my files as "damaged".

On disabling McAfee, the same Excel files open up fine.

McAfee Support, please provide solution ASAP.

Thanks