Cannot create new documents in Word or edit existing documents.

[EGerbil]

I have a friend who has been experiencing some problems with her version of
Word. Apparently, it will let her open existing Word documents with no
trouble, but it will not let her edit those documents or type new documents.
She tells me that the documents aren't set to "Read Only", which was the
first thing I asked her to check.

It seems that the problem has occurred on two separate computers, and the
only thing shared between the two has been a memory stick. The problem
"resolved itself" on one computer, but the other has not.

She is using Windows XP and the latest version of Word.

From the available information, both she and I speculate that the problem
may be caused by a virus. Is this possible, and are there any known viruses
with these symptoms?

If not, is anyone familiar with this problem, and can offer a solution?

Many thanks in advance to anyone who can help with this.

-EG

 

[Jezebel]

Yes there are viruses with these sorts of symptoms. Which is also consistent
with the problem following your friend -- presumably she tried opening the
same documents on both machines.

 

[Suzanne S. Barnhill]

The usual problem in this situation (new computer) is that she has either
failed to activate Word/Office and has used up her 50 free uses or that
Office was a trial version (very common on new computers these days) and has
expired. In the first case, she needs to use Help | Activate Product. In the
latter, she will have to pay for Office if she wants to continue using it;
see “How to convert a Office 2003 Trial Edition to a Full Retail Editionâ€
http://support.microsoft.com/?kbid=831023

 

[EGerbil]

Are these viruses detectable and curable with a virus scanner such as AVG
Anti-virus?

 

[EGerbil]

How can I determine what version (un-activated/trial) my friend's copy of
Word is? Would it be displayed in the "About" box?

 

[Jezebel]

why not have a look?

How can I determine what version (un-activated/trial) my friend's copy of
Word is? Would it be displayed in the "About" box?

 

[Jezebel]

some are.

Are these viruses detectable and curable with a virus scanner such as AVG
Anti-virus?

 

[Suzanne S. Barnhill]

If you choose Help | Activate Product, you'll get either a dialog guiding
you through the activation process or (I believe) details on how to upgrade
the trial to a retail version.