What is causing microsoft word to not respond?

[Chadgracey]

I'm using office professional edition 2003. I'm only having problems with
microsoft word. When I try to open documents already saved or try to type on
a blank document, word will lock up and I get a "not responding" message. I
have downloaded and installed all the updates.

 

[Cindy M -WordMVP-]

Hi =?Utf-8?B?Q2hhZGdyYWNleQ==?=,

I'm using office professional edition 2003. I'm only having problems with
microsoft word. When I try to open documents already saved or try to type on
a blank document, word will lock up and I get a "not responding" message. I
have downloaded and installed all the updates.

How about if you start up in "Safe Mode": hold down the CTRL key. Can you now
type in a new document? Open an existing one?

If that works, then your Normal.dot template is probably damaged. Locate it on
your machine and rename it to NormalOLD.dot. Now try starting Word normally and
see if things work as they ought?

Cindy Meister
INTER-Solutions, Switzerland
http://homepage.swissonline.ch/cindymeister (last update Jun 8 2004)
http://www.word.mvps.org

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[Chadgracey]

Hi =?Utf-8?B?Q2hhZGdyYWNleQ==?=,

How about if you start up in "Safe Mode": hold down the CTRL key. Can you now
type in a new document? Open an existing one?

If that works, then your Normal.dot template is probably damaged. Locate it on
your machine and rename it to NormalOLD.dot. Now try starting Word normally and
see if things work as they ought?

Cindy Meister
INTER-Solutions, Switzerland
http://homepage.swissonline.ch/cindymeister (last update Jun 8 2004)


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

I tried that in safe mode and it did the same thing. I should clarify
though. I AM able to open an old document - I just can't make any changes to
it b/c it locks up. Also, when I type on a blank document, I can get a couple
lines, then it locks up and gives the "not responding" message. Any other
advice?

 

[Suzanne S. Barnhill]

See http://word.mvps.org/FAQs/AppErrors/ProbsOpeningWord.htm

 

[Chadgracey]

See http://word.mvps.org/FAQs/AppErrors/ProbsOpeningWord.htm





That web site really wasn't of any help. I need specific directions on how to fix my specific problem. I have tried renaming the normal.dot as well as deleting the "data" folder. Neither have worked. I tried the detect and repair option in word as well. Any other suggestions?

 

[Cindy M -WordMVP-]

Hi =?Utf-8?B?Q2hhZGdyYWNleQ==?=,

I tried that in safe mode and it did the same thing. I should clarify
though. I AM able to open an old document - I just can't make any changes to
it b/c it locks up. Also, when I type on a blank document, I can get a couple
lines, then it locks up and gives the "not responding" message. Any other
advice?

Hmmm. Two possibilities:

1. Boot WINDOWS in Safe Mode. If that makes a difference, then the problem is
with something loaded and running under Windows that's interfering with Word's
being able to maintain its temporary and scratch files (things it does while
you're editing).

2. The Word installation is damaged. A complete uninstall/reinstall *might*
help.

Cindy Meister
INTER-Solutions, Switzerland
http://homepage.swissonline.ch/cindymeister (last update Jun 8 2004)
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