File won't open in Word XP - even directly

[kbb76]

I'm using Office XP SP3 on a PC running Windows XP SP2. I am trying to open
(a VERY important!) doc file and Word gives me this error message:

The document name or path is not valid. Try one or more of the following:
*Check the path to make sure it was typed correctly
*On the File menu, click Open. Search for the file using the Dialog
box.

Well I tried opening the file from the Open command. Still get the same
error. I saved it in the afternoon, shut down the computer and when I started
it up again in the evening I started getting the error. I tried turning off
Norton Anti-Virus auto-protect, it didn't have any effect.

 

[garfield-n-odie [MVP]]

Does the file name or path contain any symbols or international
characters?

If you saved the document to a floppy disk or other removable
media, then the file could be corrupt. Actually, the file could
be corrupt even if you didn't save it to removable media. See
http://word.mvps.org/FAQs/AppErrors/CorruptDoc.htm .

See http://support.microsoft.com/?kbid=328100 "You receive a 'The
document name or path is not valid' error message when you open a
document in Word 2002" and
http://support.microsoft.com/?kbid=832890 "'The document name or
path is not valid' error message when you open a Word 2002
document that is in a document management program".

 

[Alex]

I have exactly the same problem. Spent all evening transcribing my
handwritten notes for a Fluid Dynamics class - entered drawing, equations,
etc. Closed doc. Tried to open today and I get the same message as the
original complaint. Ironically, Wordpad opens the document, but not MS Word,
but of course no equations or drawings. Had my computer crashed or something,
I would say okay Microsoft is not to blame, but this document was opened and
closed normally. I also run updated Norton virus. No virus. MS recovery
procedure advises to save a corrupt doc as HTML to recover, but I can't do
this if MS word won't open it and Wordpad does not have this option. This is
scary. I was writing my thesis in Word. Switching to Latex ...

 

[Alex]

Actually, checked again with Wordpad. The equations do show up. They just
took a long time to appear, so it fooled me last time. However, half a dozen
drawings are gone, but I am going to try to get some recovery with Wordpad.

(PS: I am also using Office XP on Windows XP SP2)

 

[Herb Tyson [MVP]]

One more thing to try... in Word, choose File - Open, and navigate to the
file. With the file selected, use the dropdown arrow to the right of Open
and choose Open and Repair. This is available in both Word 2002 and 2003.

 

[Alex]

This worked. Thank you!

One more thing to try... in Word, choose File - Open, and navigate to the
file. With the file selected, use the dropdown arrow to the right of Open
and choose Open and Repair. This is available in both Word 2002 and 2003.