problem opening word 2003 on vista

[tosoxs]

I recently installed office pro 2003 on a vista machine and have not been
able to open word since. All other office applications work perfectly, all
except word. I've uninstalled it several times to no avail. I've looked
through several forums and posts about this issue and have yet to find a
solution. I have been unable to locate normal.dot or normal.dotm files to
determine if it's a template issue. I've been working on this for three days
now and could really use some help.

 

[Herb Tyson [MVP]]

You will need to set Windows Explorer to display hidden/system files in
order to find Normal.dot. The usual culprits are:

1. Corrupted normal.dot

2. Corrupted registry key (usually the Data key)

3. Misbehaving add-in.

For starters, try starting Word in Safe mode. Hold down the Ctrl key while
starting Word, and click Yes to starting in Safe mode.

If Word runs okay in safe mode, then I would try renaming/deleting
normal.dot and renaming/deleting the Data key. If those don't fix it, I
would then begin to investigate add-ins, although, that will be difficult if
Word doesn't start up... so I hope that 1 or 2 will fix it.

Take a look here for additional information, including information on
editing the registry:

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/921541


--

Herb Tyson MS MVP
Author of the Word 2007 Bible
Blog: http://word2007bible.herbtyson.com
Web: http://www.herbtyson.com

 

[Terry Farrell]

Have you installed a compatible local printer driver and set as the Windows
default?

 

[maxilo via OfficeKB.com]

I had the same problem and use some network software to Recover MS Word. You
can try the WordFIX (http://www.word.file-repair.com)

 

[tosoxs]

Sorry I didn't mention this in my previous post, but I already enabled
hidden/system files, and searched for the data key in the registry to realize
that it is not there either. I have also tried to open in safemode and with
/a argument with the same results. I will take a look at the link you
provided as well as the solutions others have posted and come back with my
results.

Thanks

 

[tosoxs]

Well I don't have a local printer connected to this machine, but do have a
network printer installed and set as the default.

 

[Suzanne S. Barnhill]

Install the driver for the network printer locally.

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

 

[tosoxs]

Well I tried that and it still freezes upon opening.

 

[tosoxs]

Ok, after running through the knowledge base article i still can't get word
to work. I've found that there is no data registry key, i still can't locate
the normal.dot or .dotm files, and there are no addins that i can see in the
word startup folder or in the registry. I don't know what to try next.

 

[Terry Farrell]

Try this FAQ: http://word.mvps.org/FAQs/AppErrors/ProblemsStartingWord.htm

You might like to try installing the Windows basic Generic Text printer
driver and set it as the Windows default printer just to make sure it isn't
an incompatible printer driver problem. Otherwise, follow the FAQ above.

Terry