How to unlock MS Word 2003. I accidentally hit Ctrl+D ?

[yanomama]

I am trying to use MS Word 2003, and recently it seems to have switched into
locked for editing mode--I can't block text, move, etc. VERY frustrating! I
did recently download a video game for my son, which I subsequently removed,
but there might be a correlation.

I have also searched the info online for ideas how to fix this problem, and
came across Terry Farrell's article on cleaning up my computer system, which
I'm willing to try, however, when I begin to search in Windows Explorer for
the specific types of files listed, I was alarmed to notice that all the
~*.do? files were basically all the word documents I had created, and I
didn't feel comfortable DELETING these from my system--I don't understand if
there is a back up somewhere or what, but that's a scary move!

PLEASE HELP! desperately need the editing function for my work...

 

[Suzanne S. Barnhill]

Any file whose name that begins with ~ is a temporary file, not a document
file.

--
Suzanne S. Barnhill
Microsoft MVP (Word)
Words into Type
Fairhope, Alabama USA
http://word.mvps.org

 

[Terry Farrell]

As Suzanne says, go ahead and clean out your temp folder. But if you are
able to navigate your document using the arrow keys and it is only the mouse
that is non-responsive, then you have corrupted your registry.

This may happen because you have left Word active whilst an automatic Update
was installed.

Go tot he run command and type in

regedit

and press enter. Navigate to the key below and delete the whole key.

Word DataKey

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Office\version number\Word\Data

 

[Ray the CPA]

! have the same locking problem in MS Word 2003. The software has been
registered for years. No new hardware was installed. I have loaded software
over the past few weeks (we are an accounting firm), and sometimes it says a
file (? ends in .dll) is locked by Windows and can't be updated. The Word
program functionality has been lost for about a week. Under Tools - Options
or Customize are both greyed out. All the Save - Save As, plus many other
commands are grey. Every document I open is treated like a read-only. I am
unable to save. Even in MS Outlook email I am unable to save drafts. About
a week ago I installed a Word automatic update. That is about the time the
problems started! I need an answer now. Thanks.

 

[Ray the CPA]

I tried all of the suggestions in this email thread and none of them worked.
A friend suggested a solution to my Word 2003 lockup problem. Mind you, I am
NOT an IT person, so you will try this at your own risk. But it worked for
me.

Close all open applications on your computer.
Go to: START - SEARCH - FILE
Search for the file: normal.dot
I found mine in C:\Documents and Settings\ray\Application
Data\Microsoft\Templates

CAUTION: Some of my personal settings in Word 2003 were reset to Microsoft
defaults during the following procedure and I had to redo them. I suggest
making a screen print of your settings before going further. This will make
it easy for you to reset them later. Your personal settings are under:
Tools - Options and Customize

Just to be safe, copy to your desktop the file: normal.dot
Then delete the original file: normal.dot
When you relaunch Word 2003, it will automatically rebuild this file.

All my functionality returned to Word 2003!
I had to reset a few options and customized settings, but it works fine.

Again, following this procedure is at your own risk.

 

[Suzanne S. Barnhill]

We generally advise renaming Normal.dot rather than deleting it, for the
reasons you mention. Many of your customizations can be retrieved from the
renamed template (see
http://word.mvps.org/FAQs/AppErrors/BlankDocNotBlank.htm for more on this).

--
Suzanne S. Barnhill
Microsoft MVP (Word)
Words into Type
Fairhope, Alabama USA
http://word.mvps.org

 

[Jennifer]

Thank you so much for your input. I had tried every suggestion as well and
nothing worked. Then when I read your blog I figured I would give it a try
since nothing else worked and it instantly fixed my problem.

 

[Kim]

I have the same issue but with MS Word 2007. Everything is greyed out. You
can open the files but they cannot be edited or formatted at all. The
product is activated according to the Resource tab.

Help would be greatly appreciated.

 

[Terry Farrell]

Then it is probably a trial version that has time expired?

Terry

 

[Cynthia]

I have the same problem and went through the same stpes, and the message said
that the maximum allowed number of product activation. I might need to
purchase something; however I can not seem to find out how.

 

[Sandy]

I am having the same problems as Lorraine. I unknowingly deleted MS Word
2003, so re-installed the application and now all my documents are locked and
I am unable to activate Word/Office 2003.

 

[garfield-n-odie [MVP]]

You are "unable to activate Word/Office 2003" because why? As a
guess, see http://support.microsoft.com/?kbid=823527 "Activation
Wizard does not start in Office 2003".

 

[Steve]

wat u do is press ctrl+shift+f11 n if dat dnt work u grab ur right foot, then
shove it the fuk up microsofts ass
take care, steve

 

[Suzy]

This is exactly my problem. I don't know why it is locked, in fact I have
never been able to use this program since I have had this computer. I get the
same message. I see the same blinking cursor with a line beneath but can't
enter anything when I type. Please help me solve this. Thanks Suzy

 

[Suzanne S. Barnhill]

The answer is not going to change. Either you have not activated Word, or it
is a trial version that has expired.

--
Suzanne S. Barnhill
Microsoft MVP (Word)
Words into Type
Fairhope, Alabama USA
http://word.mvps.org

 

[Barbara]

I bought my Dell in 2005. I have had both Word and Excel since that time
running perfectly.
My computer crashed last year..took it to a repair shop where they backed up
my files but that was it..I got it back with no Excel and Word.

Found an old copy of a trial version of each and used it in desperation to
work on my files.
Now that has expired.
I used the product key that is labeled on my computer but because I had 2003
running, it won't recognize it.
How do I get my word and excel back?
Thanks

 

[Terry Farrell]

You must install the correct version of Word 2003 (probably Word 2003
standard OEM). If you installed a different version, the key will not work.
Very often, OEM Office is BIOS locked so you probably need the Dell
installation disk. Try Dell to see if they will sell you a replacement disk.

 

[ify]

my word document says "this modification is not allowed because the
document is locked." And i am bot on any trial period.Please wat do i do.I
am using Microsoft 2007

 

[Doug Robbins - Word MVP]

Have you activated the software?

--
Hope this helps.

Please reply to the newsgroup unless you wish to avail yourself of my
services on a paid consulting basis.

Doug Robbins - Word MVP, originally posted via msnews.microsoft.com

 

[Terry Farrell]

Did your PC come with a trial version and you then purchased the full
version? If so, did you uninstall the trial version prior to installing the
full version?

And as Doug suggests, have you activated it (Word Options, Resource tab)?