Problems researching in Office (MS Word)

[Lsuzuki]

I always get the message that I'm not connected to the internet, but I am (I
have DSL). I can connect to the MS site and retrieve clipart, but I cannot
connect to the dictionary or encyclopedia (or other Encarta stuff).

 

[Bob I]

Just a guess but, check firewall settings perhaps?

 

[Lsuzuki]

Yes, I already thought of this. However (1) I am able to connect to the the
MSN site and to clipart through the "research" function and (2) even if I
turn my firewall off, I still get the message that I'm not connected to the
internet whenever I try to use the Encarta. Additionally, I can use the
Thesaurus and the Translate functions.

 

[Bob I]

In that case the following may be the answer, exact phrasing of the
reported error message goes a long way to reduce searching for the cause.

Error message: Encarta Encyclopedia failed to connect to the Internet
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/305298/en-us

 

[Lsuzuki]

Thanks so much for that link. However, it told me to go to Encarta and click
Tools. I don't seem to have Encarta on my computer. Should it have been
included in my MS Office suite?

 

[Bob I]

Yes that is for the Encarta encyclopedia, if you don't have it, it
wouldn't apply. How about we back up and start with the EXACT error
message, as the general gist of the problem seems to point to your
security settings.

 

[Lsuzuki]

Even though I am connected to the internet and my firewall allows MS Word to
access internet stuff associated with it, I get the following message if I
try to research Encarta, eLibrary, Factiva iWorks, or MSN Search:

This service could not be searched because you are not connected to the
Internet. Please connect and try again.

However, I can use the "translate" and "thesaurus" functions with no problem.

 

[Bob I]

I think based on the program that you list you will need to change the
settings in Internet explorer to allow them to work. Open Internet
Explorer and try the MSN search toolbar. It uses the aspx also.

 

[Lsuzuki]

Sorry... I don't understand your response. Try the MSN searc toolbar to do
what? And what do you mean by "It uses the aspx also"???

 

[Bob I]

Try to use it to search. It is the same thing that you say does not work
in "Word". I suspect that it won't work in Internet Explorer either,
meaning that the problem is not Office.

 

[Lsuzuki]

If I enter a word in the MSN search tool, it searches the web for websites on
which that word appears (like using Google); it does not search Encarta for
the definition of that word, nor do I think that it is supposed to.

 

[Bob I]

Does using the "MSN search" in Research Word result in the same listing
as using "MSN search" in Internet Explorer? I get exactly the same hit
list doing it both ways. If you don't then the question is what is
causing that.

 

[Lsuzuki]

As I wrote before...

Even though I am connected to the internet and my firewall allows MS Word to
access internet stuff associated with it, I get the following message if I
try to research Encarta, eLibrary, Factiva iWorks, or MSN Search:

This service could not be searched because you are not connected to the
Internet. Please connect and try again.

However, I can use the "translate" and "thesaurus" functions with no problem.

 

[Bob I]

The "translate" and "thesaurus" are internal. Please try Help, Detect
and Repair. If it still isn't working, please open "Research" and then
at the bottom of the pane, select "Research options" and see what is
activated and what the Properties and Parental controls are set to.

 

[Lsuzuki]

Yes, I had already tried the Detect and Repair, and I had already checked
that the correct things were activated and that parental controls are not
activated.\

As the error message keeps informing me (and as I've been saying), the
problem is that Word thinks I'm not connected to the internet when I try
these research options. However, if I click on Microsoft Office Online or
Clipart, it connects with no problem.

I just tried something, and maybe this will give you a clue as to what's
going on... I created a couple of hyperlinks in a Word doc (both an email
link and a URL), and I cannot click on them.

 

[Bob I]

Possibly this
Hyperlinks Do Not Work in Outlook Express or in Word
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/823301/en-us

Also is use HTTP 1.1 set in Internet Explorer?

 

[Lsuzuki]

I followed the instructions in the link... still no success. And, yes, HTTP
1.1 is checked.

 

[Bob I]

Did that fix your hyperlink issue. I'm afraid I've run out of ideas
other than to enable the Windows firewall and try disabling the 3rd
party firewall.

 

[Lsuzuki]

Windows firewall is enabled. I thought I didn't have a 3rd party firewall,
but it turns out I do (Trend Micro PC-cillin). And if I disable it,
halleluiah, I can use the research function in Word. Hyperlinks still don't
work, but I don't really care that much. Does the Windows firewall provide
enough protection?

 

[Bob Buckland ?:-\)]

Your third party firewall should have a settings area that allows you to choose what programs can access the internet and which can
not. What sometimes happens is that when you update a program the 'updated' version is seen as a new program and needs to be
specifically authorized (i.e. it's checking to be sure that you did the update and that it wasn't modified without your knowledge).

============
Windows firewall is enabled. I thought I didn't have a 3rd party firewall,
but it turns out I do (Trend Micro PC-cillin). And if I disable it,
halleluiah, I can use the research function in Word. Hyperlinks still don't
work, but I don't really care that much. Does the Windows firewall provide
enough protection? >>