If I open an existing spreadsheet in Excel, I can work in the spreadsheet, but none of the ribbon menu functions work, including the close "X" in the corner.  If I open a blank workbook, everything seems to work fine. 

Hi,

As far as I know, this issue mostly happens when the Excel file is viewed in preview pane and subsequently opens in Excel by double click. This may be the reason that it occurred with an existing file not in a blank file.

Please try to turn off preview pane:

1. Right click on the Start Button.
2. Click 'Open Windows Explorer'.
3. At the top left click Organize > Layout 
4. Uncheck Details Pane and Preview Pane.

5. On a Windows menu, click on Tools > Folder Options.  In the box that opens up, click on the View tab.  Scroll down the list to Show pop-up description for folder and desktop items and clear the checkbox and then click OK. 

Similar issue:

http://answers.microsoft.com/en-us/office/forum/office_2010-excel/excel-2010-ribbon-bar-menus-are-freezing-not/07430ad1-c534-4c86-b09d-7a95653589d9?page=2

Regards,

George Zhao
Forum Support
________________________________________
Come back and mark the replies as answers if they help and unmark them if they provide no help.
If you have any feedback on our support, please click "tnfsl@microsoft.com"

Hi,

As far as I know, this issue mostly happens when the Excel file is viewed in preview pane and subsequently opens in Excel by double click. This may be the reason that it occurred with an existing file not in a blank file.

Please try to turn off preview pane:

1. Right click on the Start Button.
2. Click 'Open Windows Explorer'.
3. At the top left click Organize > Layout 
4. Uncheck Details Pane and Preview Pane.

5. On a Windows menu, click on Tools > Folder Options.  In the box that opens up, click on the View tab.  Scroll down the list to Show pop-up description for folder and desktop items and clear the checkbox and then click OK. 

Similar issue:

http://answers.microsoft.com/en-us/office/forum/office_2010-excel/excel-2010-ribbon-bar-menus-are-freezing-not/07430ad1-c534-4c86-b09d-7a95653589d9?page=2

Regards,

George Zhao
Forum Support
________________________________________
Come back and mark the replies as answers if they help and unmark them if they provide no help.
If you have any feedback on our support, please click "tnfsl@microsoft.com"

• Marked as answer by RDWilderman 17 hours 36 minutes ago

Hi,

As far as I know, this issue mostly happens when the Excel file is viewed in preview pane and subsequently opens in Excel by double click. This may be the reason that it occurred with an existing file not in a blank file.

Please try to turn off preview pane:

1. Right click on the Start Button.
2. Click 'Open Windows Explorer'.
3. At the top left click Organize > Layout 
4. Uncheck Details Pane and Preview Pane.

5. On a Windows menu, click on Tools > Folder Options.  In the box that opens up, click on the View tab.  Scroll down the list to Show pop-up description for folder and desktop items and clear the checkbox and then click OK. 

Similar issue:

http://answers.microsoft.com/en-us/office/forum/office_2010-excel/excel-2010-ribbon-bar-menus-are-freezing-not/07430ad1-c534-4c86-b09d-7a95653589d9?page=2

Regards,

George Zhao
Forum Support
________________________________________
Come back and mark the replies as answers if they help and unmark them if they provide no help.
If you have any feedback on our support, please click "tnfsl@microsoft.com"

• Marked as answer by RDWilderman Saturday, March 21, 2015 1:47 PM

Thanks George. Details and Preview were off, but unchecking "Show pop-up description for folder and desktop items" did the trick for me.