Can't Open Documents--Word 2002

[Steve]

When I try to open an existing document in Word or create a new document, a
box appears on the taskbar identifying the document that I am trying to work
with, but no window ever opens. I cannot maximize the box, but I can close
it.

I have a similar problem with Outlook, whether Outlook is reading emails
using Word, html, plain text or rich text.

By the way, I am running Windows XP.

I have uninstalled and reinstalled Office twice, ran the MS Word Support
Template (which included deleting the word data registry key, renaming
normal.dot, etc.), deleted temp files, ran checkdisk, renamed the office
folder in the registry, and changed various settings on both Word and
Outlook, all without any success.

The last time that I uninstalled and reinstalled Office, Word and Outlook
did work temporarily. But then I tried to create a second new Word document
while I still had the first one open, and then both Word and Outlook no
longer worked properly.

I have done an extensive Google search and it seems that a few other people
have had similar experiences over the years, but I did not see a fix.

Any help would be greatly appreciated. Thanks. Steve

 

[garfield-n-odie]

It's possible that the Word window is opening off-screen. When
the Word icon is on the taskbar and is the currently selected
icon, press Alt+W and then A (which is the keyboard shortcut for
Window->ArrangeAll).

 

[Steve]

good thought, but nothing happens when i do this. is there another way to
check out this theory? thanks.

 

[Tony Jollans]

I doubt whether this is any real help but I occasionally experience
something very similar to this with Word and Outlook 2003 where I am unable
to switch to the windows. I can sometimes manage to see them by explicitly
minimising other applications. It seems to happen after my screensaver has
cut in or the screen has shut down (or whatever it is that it does after a
few minutes of inactivity). However I find that if I close all Office
applications - and check via the Task Manager that they have actually all
closed - and cancelling the tasks if not - that all works properly again on
restarting.

One other thing that sometimes happens is that my windows get reduced (for
no apparent reason) to minimal title bars (or less) in a corner of the
screen where I don't immediately notice them and require some fiddly mouse
and / or keyboard work to resize them back to usability.

If it's happening all the time you probably have a different issue but I
didn't think it would do any harm to mention my experience. I don't normally
use Word as my Outlook editor - I don't know if that's relevant.

 

[Suzanne S. Barnhill]

What I find causes this problem is the Office Picture Manager. When I've got
that running, I have to minimize all windows in order to select one. But
that's because the taskbar won't unhide.

 

[garfield-n-odie]

Close Word and Outlook, and turn off Word as your email editor in
Outlook in Start | Control Panel | Internet Options.

Start Word. Does a blank Word window appear?

If not, close Word, and start Word using winword.exe /a as
described in
http://word.mvps.org/FAQs/AppErrors/ProbsOpeningWord.htm . Does
a blank Word window appear?

Close Word, and start Word the normal way. Does a blank Word
window appear?

 

[Steve]

you were correct! word windows were opening up off screen. thanks so much
to you and suzanne.

 

[garfield-n-odie]

you're welcome

you were correct! word windows were opening up off screen. thanks so much
to you and suzanne.