Wants to convert a Word doc that's already in Word

[MDales]

This happened to a whole directory of documents that were created with Word
2002. I've saved a recent letter there today but all old letters and
documents won't open. I get a message asking to convert it and no matter
what I choose it won't open them. If i choose plain text it just shows
little squares. If I try other choices like older versions of Word it says
the documents aren't in that format.

Any ideas on why a previous Word document suddenly seems to have changed
formats? What happened to them?

 

[Stefan Blom]

If this happens only when you double-click the files (as opposed to opening
them via File | Open), try re-registering Word; see
http://word.mvps.org/faqs/apperrors/reregisterword.htm.

If the above does not help, the documents could be damaged. Try Open and
Repair (via the Open dialog box).

 

[MDales]

Stefan,

This happens any which way I open the documents, double clicking on them in
Windows Explorer, or from File Open in Word.

I don't see a choice under File for "Open and Repair" and my full menus are
open. Can I find that anywhere else?

 

[Suzanne S. Barnhill]

In the File Open dialog, click the arrow beside the Open button to find Open
and Repair.

 

[MDales]

Thanks but I don't have any arrow beside the open button and when I choose
File Open it opens our document management system for finding files. No
choice anywhere to open and repair. If I disable the document manager system
and choose file open it simply opens a dialogue box with the directory
showing and I don't see a place to choose repair.

Martha

 

[Suzanne S. Barnhill]

What version of Word do you have?

 

[MDales]

It's Word 2002 (10.6612.6626) SP3

Martha

What version of Word do you have?

 

[Suzanne S. Barnhill]

It may be that Open and Repair was introduced in Word 2003, but in any case
the issue here seems to be that your document management system is getting
in the way.

 

[MDales]

Thanks anyhow. I have my doubts "repair" would work anyhow. But I still
don't understand why/how it could happen. It's a very frightening thing to
have a whole directory of documents corrupt for no apparent reason.

Martha
(I long for the good old days of WordPerfect)