Opening Documents Has Become Inefficient

[Mark2006]

I am using Word XP with Vista Business 32 bit on a dell lat. d630 laptop.

O.K., I have upgraded to Vista Business from XP Home. It has taken quite
some time to get all the drivers etc. However, it is done and I am
reasonably happy. One problem, opening documents in word has become
inefficient. I used to be able to press ctrl + O and then type the name of
the document (assuming I was in the right folder) and then press enter once
or twice and it would open. Now, I press ctrl + O, type the name, press
enter, it is then listed, then I have to mouse up to the document in the list
and double click. I am sure there is a setting that needs to be changed.
Any ideas?

Thanks!

 

[Cindy M.]

Hi =?Utf-8?B?TWFyazIwMDY=?=,

I used to be able to press ctrl + O and then type the name of
the document (assuming I was in the right folder) and then press enter once
or twice and it would open. Now, I press ctrl + O, type the name, press
enter, it is then listed, then I have to mouse up to the document in the list
and double click.

When I Ctrl+O, then start typing a document name, that box drops down with a
list of file names that match what I'm typing. I can continue typing if the list
is long, then move to the file name and press Enter and the document opens
immediately.

That doesn't work for you?

Cindy Meister
INTER-Solutions, Switzerland
http://homepage.swissonline.ch/cindymeister (last update Jun 17 2005)
http://www.word.mvps.org

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[Mark2006]

No, that does not work. The name will appear there but it will not open from
the box, it will only open if I go up to the list and double click it or go
up to the list and highlight and then press. Nothing from the box
works....odd isn't it?

 

[Cindy M.]

Hi =?Utf-8?B?TWFyazIwMDY=?=,

No, that does not work. The name will appear there but it will not open from
the box, it will only open if I go up to the list and double click it or go
up to the list and highlight and then press. Nothing from the box
works....odd isn't it?

Yes, very. In your position, there are two things I would try:

1. Hold down CTRL when starting Word to force it into Safe Mode. See if the behavior
is different. If it is, there could well be something interfering with Word's default
behavior, such as an Add-in or a damaged Word component.

2. Try repairing the Word installation (Control Panel/Programs and Features, select
the Office installation, click "Change", then choose "Repair") to see if that makes a
difference.

Cindy Meister
INTER-Solutions, Switzerland
http://homepage.swissonline.ch/cindymeister (last update Jun 17 2005)
http://www.word.mvps.org

This reply is posted in the Newsgroup; please post any follow question or reply in
the newsgroup and not by e-mail

 

[Mark2006]

Hi Cindy,
Your suggestions are very much appreciated. Opening files works perfectly
while in safe mode. So, I repaired the install but the problem persists.
Any more suggestions?
Thanks,
Mark

 

[Graham Mayor]

If opening files works in safe mode then the probability is that there is
some issue with your user settings - probably the normal template - see
http://word.mvps.org/FAQs/AppErrors/ProblemsStartingWord.htm.

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Graham Mayor - Word MVP


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[Mark2006]

I have tried what was suggested, again, no improvement. Tried safe mode
again, works perfectly. Can there be something in the registry? What would
happen if I used word in safe mode to work with documents? Can that be done?

 

[Mark2006]

One other thought, I signed on to my computer in another account, the word
worked fine. So, it is specific to my account and the settings I have.

 

[Graham Mayor]

The principal of safe mode is that it works without your user settings - the
normal template, the data key in the registry, addins etc. It is clear from
your comments that one of the settings from your profile is problematic - my
guess would have been the normal template. All the problem settings are
covered in the link I posted earlier.

Do you have virus checking that has an office plug-in, such as Norton or
AVG? Checking of Word/Office documents can usually be deselected in the AV
program e.g. in Norton AV by turning off its Office Plug-in.

With some versions of the Norton product it may be necessary to unregister
the calling DLL by running the following command line from Windows > Start >
Run

regsvr32 /u "c:\program files\norton antivirus\officeav.dll"
or
regsvr32 /u "c:\program files\norton systemworks\norton
antivirus\officeav.dll"

Other AV apps eg the popular free ediition of Grisoft's AVG antivirus
software, require similar treatment.
In this instance:

regsvr32 /u "C:\Program Files\AVG\AVG8\avgoff2k.dll"

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Graham Mayor - Word MVP


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[Mark2006]

Hi Everyone,
I found a solution!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
The solution is to run "regedit" and then delete all the entries related to
Microsoft Word (I left the other office programs alone.) When I clicked on
Word later to open it, it acted like it was installing it and recreated all
the registry entries fresh. Now "Open" works like it does for everyone else.
I know this might not be the most sophisticated solution, but it sure
worked. Thank you all.