Word 2003 screen flashes . . . but won't open

[BonnieMom33]

Lately, when I need to open Microsoft Word 2003, the screen begins opening
Word, but hangs part way through and just flashes. I have waited for it to
resolve itself, but it doesn't. Start-Reboot hangs then, too. Ctrl-Alt-Del
doesn't bring up the Task Manager Screen, either. In short, I have to do a
cold re-boot.

I have run Norton antivirus several times, but it found nothing (yes, it's
up-to-date), I have run Spybot S & D . . . nothing. I have run Norton
WinDoctor to make sure there are no snags . . . system is fine.

In my frustration, I have looked across the Internet via Google and found
some nibbles in reference to making PDF files from Word. I have done this a
lot lately, but with a third-party software . . . not Adobe.

Is there any connection between Word hanging and my making PDF's from Word?
How can I stop it?

 

[garfield-n-odie [MVP]]

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

 

[BonnieMom33]

Thank you for the link but it didn't help. I checked out the "the “realâ€
Startup path" as suggested by mine was empty. The link you indicated only
covers up to Office 2002. Mine is Word 2003. Thanks for trying, though.

Bonnie

 

[Suzanne S. Barnhill]

The article applies to all versions of Word. Have you tried starting in
Office Safe Mode (press Ctrl while starting Word)?

 

[BonnieMom33]

This is why I think the article doesn't cover Word 2003. All of the examples
are for versions up to 2002. (See Below)
If you can't see the full Startup path in the File Locations dialog, click
the Modify button. Word 2000 and previous versions display the full path
where it says “Folder Nameâ€. In Word 2002 (unfortunately) you have to pull
down the arrow where it says “Look in†in order to see the full path.

If you can't get into Word, you can get the “real†Startup path by either:


Searching your hard disk for *.dot.


Looking in the registry for:

(Word 97): HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Office\8.0\Word\Options\
“STARTUP-PATHâ€

(Word 2000):
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Office\9.0\Word\Options\
“STARTUP-PATHâ€

(Word 2002):
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Office\10.0\Word\Options\
“STARTUP-PATHâ€

 

[BonnieMom33]

Okay. I've started in Safe Mode . . . now what do I do to detect and
eliminate the problem?

 

[Guest]

READ THE FAQ and follow it step by step.

Okay. I've started in Safe Mode . . . now what do I do to detect and
eliminate the problem?

 

[Suzanne S. Barnhill]

It doesn't have examples beyond Word 2002 because it hasn't been updated
recently, but everything there still applies (except that some Registry
paths would have to be edited to substitute 11 for 10). These articles are
created by MVP volunteers and don't get updated frequently; in particular
now we're holding off for a massive revision when Word 2007 ships (and it
"went gold" on Friday, so that will be sooner than some of us would like!).

 

[Suzanne S. Barnhill]

If you can open without incident in Safe Mode, then you can be sure that
there is a problem with Normal.dot, the Registry, an add-in, or your printer
driver. Follow all the troubleshooting steps in the article to eliminate
each in turn.

 

[BonnieMom33]

ah-h-h . . . gotcha!

It doesn't have examples beyond Word 2002 because it hasn't been updated
recently, but everything there still applies (except that some Registry
paths would have to be edited to substitute 11 for 10). These articles are
created by MVP volunteers and don't get updated frequently; in particular
now we're holding off for a massive revision when Word 2007 ships (and it
"went gold" on Friday, so that will be sooner than some of us would like!).

 

[Suzanne S. Barnhill]

The plan, when we revise, is to add articles for Word 2007 whenever existing
ones can't be adapted because of the vastly different UI in Word 2007.
Existing articles will be updated to Word 2003/2007 as needed and an
"Applies to" section added at the beginning (similar to what you see in MSKB
articles).