Can't open/use Word 2003 with Vista OS

New Vista User · 03-05-2009, 04:18 PM

Don't think this posted before. Can't open/use Word 2003 with Vista OS. Have made a cursory search of past posts and other forums and haven't found any resolutions:

Have new laptop with Vista Home Premium. Installed Office 2003 Professional and cannot open previously saved Word documents - get error "cannot find file". When try to open Word itself, program hangs and ultimately closes. I am able to open Word in Safe Mode, have tried detect and repair and have checked and verified that all updates are up-to-date. Program works in safe mode, but once exited have the same problems.

I have tried uninstalling and re-installing Office to no avail, and can current open/create new document in Excel, PPT, Outlook (etc) with no problems. It literally seems tobe a problem with Word?

Any clues?

**macropod** · 03-06-2009, 11:56 PM

Hi,

Try the approaches suggested here:
http://www.wopr.com/index.php?showto...7&#entry197827

**sobeit** · 03-07-2009, 12:10 AM

what happens if you go straight into the word folder and open it from there by clicking on word.exe?

New Vista User · 03-07-2009, 11:37 PM

Tried approaches suggested at http://www.wopr.com/index.php?showto...7&#entry197827, and this solved the problem of Word not opening to create new docs.

So clicking on Winword.exe or using the Start/Run cmd successfully open up a new document. However, the problem still remains that I can't open saved documents. I'm still getting the error that the file in question cannot be found. If I try to open the document once Word has started up, the program hangs and eventually becomes non-responsive. The only indication is the "Running virus scan" that appears in the bottom toolbar.

My antivirus software is F-secure, and even when it is disabled the above problem occurs.

pathi_ml · 03-07-2009, 11:50 PM

your problem can be solved by down load and installing the Microsoft compatibility pack

http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/d...displaylang=en

**macropod** · 03-08-2009, 01:55 AM

Hi path_ml,

That's not likely to help solve the issue - the compatability pack only relates to Office 2003's ability to open a document saved in the new Office 2007 file formats. The OP has made no mention of Office 2007 being involved.

**sobeit** · 03-08-2009, 03:02 AM

how are you trying to open saved documents? are you clicking on it in my documents or where ever in windows explorer or opening word, click on file then open?

**macropod** · 03-08-2009, 04:13 AM

Hi New Vista User,

See also http://word.mvps.org/FAQs/AppErrors/...artingWord.htm and
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/921541 for a series of troubleshooting steps
that will help you track down (and hopefully solve) the problem.

03-05-2009, 04:18 PM	#1 (permalink)
New Vista User Registered User Join Date: Mar 2009 Posts: 3 OS: Vista Home Premium	Can't open/use Word 2003 with Vista OS Don't think this posted before. Can't open/use Word 2003 with Vista OS. Have made a cursory search of past posts and other forums and haven't found any resolutions: Have new laptop with Vista Home Premium. Installed Office 2003 Professional and cannot open previously saved Word documents - get error "cannot find file". When try to open Word itself, program hangs and ultimately closes. I am able to open Word in Safe Mode, have tried detect and repair and have checked and verified that all updates are up-to-date. Program works in safe mode, but once exited have the same problems. I have tried uninstalling and re-installing Office to no avail, and can current open/create new document in Excel, PPT, Outlook (etc) with no problems. It literally seems tobe a problem with Word? Any clues?

03-06-2009, 11:56 PM	#2 (permalink)
macropod TSF Enthusiast Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Australia Posts: 563 OS: Vista	Re: Can't open/use Word 2003 with Vista OS Hi, Try the approaches suggested here: http://www.wopr.com/index.php?showto...7&#entry197827 __________________ Cheers macropod (MS MVP -Word)

03-07-2009, 12:10 AM	#3 (permalink)
sobeit TSF Enthusiast Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: NEAR Posts: 7,433 OS: windows/linux	Re: Can't open/use Word 2003 with Vista OS what happens if you go straight into the word folder and open it from there by clicking on word.exe? __________________ there's been global warming since the ice age

03-07-2009, 11:37 PM	#4 (permalink)
New Vista User Registered User Join Date: Mar 2009 Posts: 3 OS: Vista Home Premium	Re: Can't open/use Word 2003 with Vista OS Tried approaches suggested at http://www.wopr.com/index.php?showto...7&#entry197827, and this solved the problem of Word not opening to create new docs. So clicking on Winword.exe or using the Start/Run cmd successfully open up a new document. However, the problem still remains that I can't open saved documents. I'm still getting the error that the file in question cannot be found. If I try to open the document once Word has started up, the program hangs and eventually becomes non-responsive. The only indication is the "Running virus scan" that appears in the bottom toolbar. My antivirus software is F-secure, and even when it is disabled the above problem occurs.

03-07-2009, 11:50 PM	#5 (permalink)
pathi_ml Registered User Join Date: Mar 2009 Posts: 2 OS: xp 3	Re: Can't open/use Word 2003 with Vista OS your problem can be solved by down load and installing the Microsoft compatibility pack http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/d...displaylang=en

03-08-2009, 01:55 AM	#6 (permalink)
macropod TSF Enthusiast Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Australia Posts: 563 OS: Vista	Re: Can't open/use Word 2003 with Vista OS Hi path_ml, That's not likely to help solve the issue - the compatability pack only relates to Office 2003's ability to open a document saved in the new Office 2007 file formats. The OP has made no mention of Office 2007 being involved. __________________ Cheers macropod (MS MVP -Word)

03-08-2009, 03:02 AM	#7 (permalink)
sobeit TSF Enthusiast Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: NEAR Posts: 7,433 OS: windows/linux	Re: Can't open/use Word 2003 with Vista OS how are you trying to open saved documents? are you clicking on it in my documents or where ever in windows explorer or opening word, click on file then open? __________________ there's been global warming since the ice age

03-08-2009, 04:13 AM	#8 (permalink)
macropod TSF Enthusiast Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Australia Posts: 563 OS: Vista	Re: Can't open/use Word 2003 with Vista OS Hi New Vista User, See also http://word.mvps.org/FAQs/AppErrors/...artingWord.htm and http://support.microsoft.com/kb/921541 for a series of troubleshooting steps that will help you track down (and hopefully solve) the problem. __________________ Cheers macropod (MS MVP -Word)