Solved: Trouble opening Word & Excel documents 2003

HogWild · 10-06-2009

I recently had to use a restore point with WinXP Home Edition. Everything works fine except for one issue; opening MS Office 2003 existing documents.

If I click on a shortcut for a document (Word or Excel), the program opens up and give an error about file missing in the location. This is not true though as I have verified the existance of the file via File Explorer. Even after deleting the short cut and recreating it, I have the same problem.

While in File Explorer, if I double click on the file, the program opens up but no file opens and I receive no messages.

The only way I've been successfull in opening the file is to open up the applicable MS Office product and use the menu, File - Open and select the file. Then it works fine.

I would appreciate it if anyone can tell me what to do to correct this!

Thanks
HogWild

elpmek · 10-06-2009

Hi HogWild - Welcome to PCHF - the talented team will endeavour to help.....

Looks like the links are corrupt - so a bit of serious housekeeping, in particular the registry

So please download CCleaner from CCleaner - Download
Then install.
I suggest when asked untick all the options apart from the top one

CCleaner:

Under the Cleaner section: select “Run Cleaner”

Under the Registry section: select “Scan for Issues”

(when asked about registry “Backup” save & then accept where it saves it to.)
then “Fix Selected Issues”

Do the Registry option again..(and again until no issues found)

Recreate links.

Report back.......................

HogWild · 10-06-2009

Ok, Thanks Elpmek. Just for my own safety net, I think I will take a backup image using Acronis True Home Image. I'm a little leary of 3rd party programs messing with the registry as I have been burnt in the past using them. I will try it out tomorrow and report back.

Thanks
Hogwild

HogWild · 11-17-2009

Elpmek, You can close this thread now. I resolved the problem by going to MS. Office would not uninstall nor repair until I downloaded a package from MS. Evidently the registry had gotten messed up.

Thanks for the help anyway!

Hogwild

elpmek · 11-17-2009

Thank you for telling us the remedy.

Marked Resolved

10-06-2009	#1
HogWild Bronze Member Join Date: Jun 2009 Posts: 30 PC Experience: Very Experienced	Trouble opening Word & Excel documents 2003 I recently had to use a restore point with WinXP Home Edition. Everything works fine except for one issue; opening MS Office 2003 existing documents. If I click on a shortcut for a document (Word or Excel), the program opens up and give an error about file missing in the location. This is not true though as I have verified the existance of the file via File Explorer. Even after deleting the short cut and recreating it, I have the same problem. While in File Explorer, if I double click on the file, the program opens up but no file opens and I receive no messages. The only way I've been successfull in opening the file is to open up the applicable MS Office product and use the menu, File - Open and select the file. Then it works fine. I would appreciate it if anyone can tell me what to do to correct this! Thanks HogWild

10-06-2009	#2
elpmek Tech Support Team Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Gloucestershire Posts: 2,900 PC Experience: Experienced	Re: Trouble opening Word & Excel documents 20 Hi HogWild - Welcome to PCHF - the talented team will endeavour to help..... Looks like the links are corrupt - so a bit of serious housekeeping, in particular the registry So please download CCleaner from CCleaner - Download Then install. I suggest when asked untick all the options apart from the top one CCleaner: Under the Cleaner section: select “Run Cleaner” Under the Registry section: select “Scan for Issues” (when asked about registry “Backup” save & then accept where it saves it to.) then “Fix Selected Issues” Do the Registry option again..(and again until no issues found) Recreate links. Report back....................... __________________ elpmek *PreWork* *PCHF Rules*

10-06-2009	#3
HogWild Bronze Member Join Date: Jun 2009 Posts: 30 PC Experience: Very Experienced	Re: Trouble opening Word & Excel documents 20 Ok, Thanks Elpmek. Just for my own safety net, I think I will take a backup image using Acronis True Home Image. I'm a little leary of 3rd party programs messing with the registry as I have been burnt in the past using them. I will try it out tomorrow and report back. Thanks Hogwild

11-17-2009	#4
HogWild Bronze Member Join Date: Jun 2009 Posts: 30 PC Experience: Very Experienced	Re: Trouble opening Word & Excel documents 20 Elpmek, You can close this thread now. I resolved the problem by going to MS. Office would not uninstall nor repair until I downloaded a package from MS. Evidently the registry had gotten messed up. Thanks for the help anyway! Hogwild

11-17-2009	#5
elpmek Tech Support Team Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Gloucestershire Posts: 2,900 PC Experience: Experienced	Re: Trouble opening Word & Excel documents 20 Thank you for telling us the remedy. Marked Resolved __________________ elpmek *PreWork* *PCHF Rules*

Similar discussions...
Thread	Thread Starter	Forum	Replies	Last Post
Symbols, not text when opening Word 2003	wwresident	Office Software	4	06-07-2009 10:42 AM
Word Documents Dissappearing (Word 2007)	Buckethead	Office Software	4	05-14-2009 08:59 AM
Solved: WORD 2003 SP3 - Saving Emails created in word	chubb298	Office Software	7	03-02-2009 03:49 PM
Pending: Word 2003 crashing upon opening	reesy1966	Office Software	4	11-24-2008 05:40 PM
Pending: Slow Opening Excel and Word Files	fastback	Windows 95, 98 & ME	15	02-10-2006 05:02 PM

Thread Tools	Search this Thread
Show Printable Version Email this Page	Search this Thread: Advanced Search
Display Modes
Linear Mode Switch to Hybrid Mode Switch to Threaded Mode