File in Word 2003 not accessible - tried all proposed solutions

[rebfromsweden]

Hi, I have one file (which contains the translation of an entire novel) in
My Documents that will not open. I have tried Open and Repair, Restoring text
(in File format), open it with WordPerfect. I have also tried a suggestion
here (from another thread) opening XPSP2 in a safe mode and changing
administrator in the Security tab. But I am the sole administrator. Nothing
helps, I get the same message, in Swedish, every time: "It was not possible
to open the file. Try the following..." I have the same problem with my
backupfile for this document. I do not have Norton, but Panda Platinum -
could there be a similar conflict with that? This has happend to just this
one file, not others with similar names. The directory shows it with its full
volume in bytes. I can open it with WordPad but it contains so many odd
characters and all the formatting is lost so I really wish there was a way to
open the proper document. Deeply grateful for any tips! Thanks, Rebecca

 

[Tom Ferguson]

How large is the document's file on disc?

Admittedly, it's a "shot in the dark" but it might be worth trying: start
Word in "safe mode". see if the document will load.

1. Click Start, point to All Programs, point to Microsoft Office, and then
press CTRL while you click Microsoft Office Word 2003.

Note For Microsoft Word 2002, click Start, point to All Programs, and then
press CTRL while you click Microsoft Word.

Important Continue to press CTRL while Word is starting.
2. You receive the following message:
Word has detected that you are holding down the CTRL key. Do you want to
start Word in safe mode?
Click Yes.

"Shot in dark 2": Navigate to normal.dot and change it's file name to
normal.do!. Start Word. try to load the file. A new normal.dot will be
created. To regain your original, quit word; rename the new normal.dot to
normal.do@ and normal.do! to normal.dot.

Let us know.
Tom
MSMVP 1998-2007

 

[rebfromsweden]

Thanks for rapid reply, but sorry no, neither worked, still the same answer.
As for the size of the document that is another problem I have. The size now
is shown as over 4 MB but it really is only about 600 kB (about 370 000 chr).
This problem goes for all my textdocs since a while back. The file grows in
size though not in content each time I close it and when it reaches a certain
point, around 9 MB I think, it sort of unloads it self and starts from the
proper size again. But that is another thread... Is there any options left
for my original problem you think?

"Tom Ferguson" skrev:

 

[Terry Farrell]

A long shot: try opening a bland document and use Insert, File to to if it
will open. If it does, immediately use SaveAs and choose RTF format. If that
works, reopen it and SaveAs back to doc format.

 

[Tom Ferguson]

Variation:

Open in Word Pad. Save as RTF, open in word, save as Word doc.

 

[rebfromsweden]

Yes, the Word Pad-method works, only all formatting is gone like every indent
and new paragraph in the entire book and also the corrections of some 30
pages so I am still anxious to open that original file. When I try the
Insert-method recommended by Terry I get the message that I am not authorized
(not sure if that is the exact term since I get this in Swedish) - but I am
the only user/administrator and I have tried the method to open XP in safe
mode and make corrections in the Security tab. It seems like the file is
"locked" for me - do you know of any other way to get authorization to unlock
it, so to speak?
Thanks a lot for your "shots" anyway - it is encouraging to feel that
someone out there actually is trying to help me out!
Allt gott,
Rebecca


"Tom Ferguson" skrev:

 

[Terry Farrell]

Rebecca

I guess that the error when trying to insert the file is erroneous and
points to the document being corrupt.

I believe that the only sound solution is what Tom has suggested. You will
have to apply all the styles again. If you assign keyboard shortcuts to the
various styles needed, you should be able to sort the document quite
quickly. Just remember to save it regularly though! And make sure that the
dreaded FastSaves option is OFF.

Terry

 

[rebfromsweden]

OK - I guess you come to a point when time is better spent correcting the
document in question than trying to fix the corrupt file. But it is so
annoying...
And yes, I did have that FastSave marked, completely unaware of the risk I
was taking.
Well I better get to it, Thanks again for your time!


"Terry Farrell" skrev:

 

[Terry Farrell]

If it is along document with loads of direct formatting (rather than all
styles) then FastSaves is a real danger. I've even seen well formatted
documents corrupted by the 'feature'. At long last it has been removed from
Word 2007 (one of its many smaller improvements).

Terry