Please Help! Most of my functions/icons are disabled

[Dedra S]

I got Office 2007 recently and have activated it with the product key;
however, most of my icons/functions are disabled in Outlook, some are missing
in Excel and Word.

Any idea how I can get this resolved?

 

[Milly Staples [MVP - Outlook]]

Have you run Office Diagnostics?

--
Milly Staples [MVP - Outlook]

Post all replies to the group to keep the discussion intact.
ALWAYS post your Outlook version.
How to ask a question: http://support.microsoft.com/KB/555375


After furious head scratching, Dedra S asked:

| I got Office 2007 recently and have activated it with the product key;
| however, most of my icons/functions are disabled in Outlook, some are
| missing in Excel and Word.
|
| Any idea how I can get this resolved?

 

[Echo S]

Please give us examples of what is missing. Office 2007 has dynamic tools --
that is, stuff isn't available unless you're working with an object that
needs (or can use) those tools. For example, most stuff is greyed out in
Excel if your cursor is in the formula bar -- most tools don't become
available until you click a cell.

Also, you have to activate Office, even if it's just the trial version. Just
inputting the product code doesn't activate it.

 

[Dedra S]

In Outlook email, the Message tab has the Basic Text icons unavailable. The
Insert tab has only the "Include" icons available - everything else is
inactive. In the Format Text tab only the "Change Style" icon is available
with everything else inactive. In Word and Excel about 25% of items are
unavailable.

If I write email content, all items are still unavailable, as are most of
the Clipboard properties. I have tried to forward emails and then use the
above items but it still doesn't work.

Office Diagnostic didn't find any problems.

Please give us examples of what is missing. Office 2007 has dynamic tools --
that is, stuff isn't available unless you're working with an object that
needs (or can use) those tools. For example, most stuff is greyed out in
Excel if your cursor is in the formula bar -- most tools don't become
available until you click a cell.

Also, you have to activate Office, even if it's just the trial version. Just
inputting the product code doesn't activate it.

--
Echo [MS PPT MVP] http://www.echosvoice.com
What's new in PPT 2007? http://www.echosvoice.com/2007.htm
Fixing PowerPoint Annoyances http://tinyurl.com/36grcd
PowerPoint 2007 Complete Makeover Kit http://tinyurl.com/32a7nx

I got Office 2007 recently and have activated it with the product key;
however, most of my icons/functions are disabled in Outlook, some are
missing
in Excel and Word.

Any idea how I can get this resolved?

 

[Echo S]

In Outlook email, the Message tab has the Basic Text icons unavailable.
The
Insert tab has only the "Include" icons available - everything else is
inactive. In the Format Text tab only the "Change Style" icon is
available
with everything else inactive.

This describes what I see, too, when I click the New Message icon in Outlook
2007 and my cursor is in the To: line. Nothing becomes available until I
click inside the message body.

In Word and Excel about 25% of items are
unavailable.

Again, I can't see what you're doing there, so it's very hard to say. Do you
have something selected? Where is your cursor?

If I write email content, all items are still unavailable, as are most of
the Clipboard properties. I have tried to forward emails and then use the
above items but it still doesn't work.

Your Paste options won't be available unless you've copied something. Copy
and Cut won't be available unless you've selected something.

Also, if your email format is set to Plain Text, most of the formatting and
Insert options will not be available. Click the New Mail Message button,
then on the Options tab look in the Format group. What is selected there --
Plain Text, HTML, or Rich Text?

 

[Dedra S]

That was it! I had it set to plain text so I changed it and now all is well
- thank you so much! I'll take your suggestions for Excel and see what
happens. Appreciate your help.

In Outlook email, the Message tab has the Basic Text icons unavailable.
The
Insert tab has only the "Include" icons available - everything else is
inactive. In the Format Text tab only the "Change Style" icon is
available
with everything else inactive.

This describes what I see, too, when I click the New Message icon in Outlook
2007 and my cursor is in the To: line. Nothing becomes available until I
click inside the message body.

In Word and Excel about 25% of items are
unavailable.

Again, I can't see what you're doing there, so it's very hard to say. Do you
have something selected? Where is your cursor?

If I write email content, all items are still unavailable, as are most of
the Clipboard properties. I have tried to forward emails and then use the
above items but it still doesn't work.

Your Paste options won't be available unless you've copied something. Copy
and Cut won't be available unless you've selected something.

Also, if your email format is set to Plain Text, most of the formatting and
Insert options will not be available. Click the New Mail Message button,
then on the Options tab look in the Format group. What is selected there --
Plain Text, HTML, or Rich Text?

Office Diagnostic didn't find any problems.

--
Echo [MS PPT MVP] http://www.echosvoice.com
What's new in PPT 2007? http://www.echosvoice.com/2007.htm
Fixing PowerPoint Annoyances http://tinyurl.com/36grcd
PowerPoint 2007 Complete Makeover Kit http://tinyurl.com/32a7nx