Libre Office Calc - external links to other calc files - can't open file

I have a ‘master’ spreadsheet in ods format that has links to other spreadsheets - either xlsx or ods - they are just a link to one total in each sheet.

I have just opened it and while it was “updating external links” the progress bar across the bottom just stopped, so I force quit it and now it just repeats the behaviour - LO just stalls and sits there - is there any way of editing the file - recreating it is going to be a really painful task.

Mac OS 11.6 LO 24.8.2.1, I have downloaded LO 24.8.4.2 and that can open even less before stalling out !

Thanks

Maybe you can find something:

1.- Don’t allow to update the links.
2.- Menu>Edit>Link to external data
3.- Update one by one, beginning for the last one.
to find the broken link.