word 4 files not opening

M

mollie

Version: 2004
Operating System: Mac OS X 10.5 (Leopard)
Processor: Intel

I am having problems running word 4 (student version) on my new Mac os. Some of my files will open and other simply won't and either I get the rainbow twirling ball and the computer locks up or I get an error message saying either the file is corrupt or it is not a valid version of MS word. I trashed the trial version MS word 8 that came with my Mac. I really need the word 4 files--my work is in it and I thought maybe I could not have both on the same computer. But it remains a problem. Sometimes I get this weird little Terminal in my bar, which I understand is an application of some time--but I have no idea what it does, or even if it has any meaning.;-)
 
D

Daiya Mitchell

Okay. First of all, it's Word 2004 and Word 2008. Using 4 and 8 makes
your message extremely confusing.

Second, there is no trial version of Mac Office 2008, so I don't know
what you trashed. Maybe the 2004 trial? But if you had opened and used
the 2004 trial before installing your own Office 2004, it may have left
corruption on your system.

I have no idea what you might mean by "weird little Terminal"--doesn't
sound familiar. Or which "bar" you mean. Or what "is an application of
some time" means. "some type"?

Anyhow, try the standard troubleshooting steps here:
http://word.mvps.org/Mac/TroubleshootingIndex.html

Work through them one by one until something helps. If nothing does,
post back. The most common culprit is a corrupted Normal template or
damaged Preferences file.
 
M

mollie

Sorry to confuse you by my apparent lack of tech language. Word 2008 did come as a trial version on my Mac Mini and that is what I trashed. At this point, I have tried everything and nothing has helped. I think what I will have to do is go back on my old computer (Power Mac) to see if I can still use the files there. And see what I can figure out from there—save as something else? Print our everything and re-key?
BTW, the "Terminal" app I am talking about is under the utilities and I have no idea what it does.
 
D

Daiya Mitchell

The thing is, no one can see your screen from here. If you can't
describe the problem such that it makes sense, it's pretty impossible to
help.

The link I gave also includes directions for a Remove and Reinstall,
which is probably your best bet at this point. There are a whole lot of
suggestions at that link--I doubt you've tried them all.

You can also install NeoOffice (free, just google for it) and those will
open your Word documents and let you continue using them.
 
M

mollie

Thanks--SO MUCH. NeoOffice helps.
The thing is, no one can see your screen from here. If you can't
describe the problem such that it makes sense, it's pretty impossible to
help.

The link I gave also includes directions for a Remove and Reinstall,
which is probably your best bet at this point. There are a whole lot of
suggestions at that link--I doubt you've tried them all.

You can also install NeoOffice (free, just google for it) and those will
open your Word documents and let you continue using them.
 
P

Pranay Sanghavi

For the time being, remove MS Word, and install Word viewer to see if it
works.

Or may be you can install both and make the corrupt file open in latest
version of Word Viewer.

A shot in the dark...
 
C

CyberTaz

There is no "Word Viewer" for Macintosh OS X :)

Regards |:>)
Bob Jones
[MVP] Office:Mac
 

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