Office 2007 Pro and .doc files in Vista

[AlanF]

Hi!
I have an odd problem with Office 2007 being unable to open doc files in
Vista, and MS Word (and all other Office applications) not being available as
programs to associate with files in 'default programs' in Vista's control
panel, or if I right click on a doc file and use 'open with'. The newer
format Office files (eg docx) open fine, and their icons show as proper Word
icons. It is just the old .doc files that cause problems (even though they
open fine on my other PC, which has XP on it). I've tried running Office
diagnostics and MS update, and even have unistalled and reinstalled Office.
Already posted in Vista general discussion, but no fixes yet.
Any ideas?

Thanks

Alan

 

[Terry Farrell]

Bizarre! All doc files (regardless of version) should be associated with
Word. If docx files are associated and open Word 2007, so should all other
docs. What happens when you use File, Open and select a .doc file? If there
is an error message, what is the message?

 

[AlanF]

Thanks Terry
Yes, that works OK from within Word (using file/open). However, from outside
Word it won't open, and the default 2 choices offered are notepad and Acrobat
reader. If I click on the 'other programs' none of the Office programs are
listed, and when I try to select Winword.exe from Office 12 under programs,
it doesn't work, and just goes back to the 'open with' dialog box. It seems
as if for some reason Vista isn't recognising the Office 07 programs as being
installed, and they aren't available from the list of default programs in
control panel.

 

[Terry Farrell]

That sounds like something is stopping the registry setting being saved. You
can force Word to reregister which reassociates the extensions in Windows,
but running the Diagnostics should have done that anyway. Are you logged in
as Administrator? If not, try logging out and logging in as Admin and go to
Start Run (Winkey+R) and type in

winword /r

and press enter. Does that work with doc files now?

Terry

 

[AlanF]

Again, thanks for the help. Again, that still hasn't worked. I wonder if some
kind of registry problem, and if I'm going to have to reinstall Windows.

 

[Terry Farrell]

Possibly. But I am reluctant to jump straight in with that solution because
it may be more serious (a Vista reinstall).

But first, try deleting the Word Data Key in the registry. It will be
recreated automatically when you restart Word. See MSKB 822005 for details.

Then in Word, change one of the other default settings that requires saving
to the registry (such as the User Name) and see if that is saved when you
close and restart it again.

Terry

 

[AlanF]

Thanks. How do I find MSKB 822005 - doesn't mean anything to me!

 

[AlanF]

Actually worked it out and done that. I did find office 10 and office 12 (and
some older ones) in the registry and deleted the data keys for both, but
unfortunately still no change!

 

[Terry Farrell]

Did you do the other test I suggested and what was the result?

<<Then in Word, change one of the other default settings that requires
saving to the registry (such as the User Name) and see if that is saved when
you close and restart it again.>>

Terry

 

[AlanF]

Yes, sorry I did both of those tests, and still no difference. The username
change I made in Word stayed changed, but the same problem is still there in
that I can only open .docx files, and not .doc files (unless I open them from
within Word). Interestingly I took a look at some of my old xls Edcel
spreadsheets, and they open normally - they behave the same whether they are
..xls or .xlsx.

If I look in 'default programs' in Vista's control panel, the only programs
shown there are IE, iTunes, Office Outlook, QuickTime, Windows Calendar,
Windows Contacts, Windows Mail, Windows Mail (news), Windows Media Centre,
WMP and Windows Photo Gallery. There are several other programs on the
computer not shown on that list, such as Acrobat Reader, Google Earth, NTI CD
& DVD maker, Cyberlink power producer, plus all the Acer stuff that came with
PC - Acer empowering technology etc. None of the Office 2007 Pro suite shows,
except MS Outlook.

 

[Terry Farrell]

Open Windows Explorer, shift+right-click on a doc file, choose Open With and
then Choose Default Programs. Check the Always use the selected program to
open these type of files and click on Browse. Navigate to the Program Files,
Microsoft Office, Office 12, winword.exe. Select winword.exe and hit OK.

Now double-click on the doc file in Explorer. Does it now open?

Terry

 

[AlanF]

Tried that one before Terry! As I said, if I navigate to Winword.exe down the
route you describe and click OK, it just takes me back to the same dialog box
of open with, offering me the choice of Notepad or Reader (or the programs
listed below if I click the 'other options' icon). I've tried it with and
without the 'always use the selected program' button checked. No difference!

 

[Terry Farrell]

This has to be a Vista problem and I suggest taking it to a Vista Newsgroup.
I cannot see how the association change failing can be caused by Office when
none of the apps are open at the time. Something is blocking the change and
'maybe' it is a permissions problem.

Terry

 

[AlanF]

Thanks again for taking the trouble to reply Terry!

I did actually start in on the Vista forum, and they advised that I posted
it on Word! The chat ID is as follows! I think I have run out of options now,
and tomorrow I will reformat the laptop. It is an Acer, and has a 'restore to
factory settings' mode, so I hope that will sort things out! I only hope it
isn't all the Acer clutter that they pre-install that is causing the problem!

http://windowshelp.microsoft.com/co...eral&mid=1fceb355-a8be-4a0d-853f-92b68901858f

 

[CharltonCalhoun]

AlanF,
Interesting, I'm having the exact same issue - and it is with an ACER
computer as well(!)
Could it be something strange with ACER causing the problem?
Did you reformat? Did that work?
Thanks, Charlton

 

[AlanF]

Hello Charlton

No, I haven't yet reformatted, but plan on doing so this evening. Actually
I'm not sure to what extent the Acer reformats: the laptop was supplied
without a reinstall disc, but has a program called AcerEmpoweringTechnology
or something similar, which restores the laptop to a factory default image
without needing a Vista disc. I have created 2 boot DVDs using this program.
I'll post again when I'm done. It's a frustrating problem and I'm
disappointed that Microsoft haven't picked it up through the forum as it does
seem to be either a Vista or a Word issue.

 

[Terry Farrell]

(Obviously) we will be very interested in finding the root of this problem.
That you both have Acers and share an identical problem places a different
perspective on it. I'd first have a look in the Control Panel and see what
utilities or add-ons that Acer deem to be needed that Vista doesn't provide.
Try either disabling (if possible) or uninstalling them to see if it
resolves the issue.

Terry

 

[AlanF]

Sorry Terry

I hadn't realised you were from MS!

Actually I can't recall if I mentioned in an earlier post but the Acer does
seem to seem to come with a whole variety of things that I don't need or use
(or understand) but I know that the Acer empowering toolbar does contain the
backup/restore function, and as Acer supply their laptops (in the UK at
least) without any Windows software discs, then I am reluctant to remove too
much. Will certainly take a look at the control panel first - is there a way
in Vista to identify add-ins? Or just look through add/remove programs to see
if anything that I don't use?

 

[Terry Farrell]

I didn't mean to infer that 'we' meant I was a Microsoftie. By 'we', I meant
the Word MVPs as a group. We thirst for knowledge!

We are all volunteers that come for a myriad of backgrounds with the common
factor that we all use Word extensively. Although we do have the opportunity
to meet with the Word development team from time to time, none of us are
paid by or are in any way affiliated to Microsoft.

I was suggesting that you use Add/Remove Programs first off as any Acer
add-ins found listed should be easy to see and find out what function they
perform. Unless it is vital, I'd remove it.

I'd also look through Start, Programs to see if there are any Acer add-ins
listed that aren't in the Add/Remove Programs list.

Terry

 

[AlanF]

Good news - the problem appears to have been resoloved following a
reinstallation of Win Vista, updating Vista, installing Office and then
updating Office. All doc files are now associated with Word, Norton 360 is
running fine and updated, so I think things have worked out, although am none
the wiser about the original problem. I will post again if any further
problems once I have installed the rest of my applications!

Thanks for all your help!

Alan