numbers need to be numbers

I exported a spreadsheet from a website using their export link, using MS 2007, it has hundreds of cells with numbers, I need to make charts, but, even though the characters look like numbers they are not recognized as numbers.



I tried selecting/changing format. I tried entering 1 as a number in a different cell, made sure it is a number, copied it, and did paste/special/multiply.



The only thing that works is to create a new spreadsheet and hand enter the numbers, and there is not enough time.



Help....? THANKS!

Synthia