Word in Office 2004 Crashes

[RJF16]

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

I'm at my wits end. As loaded, the copy of Word 2004 on my iMac will not open certain files that the very same software will open on my MacBook.

I have performed the troubleshoot procedures for Fonts, Preferences and the 'Normal' Template and I have removed and re-loaded the software on multiple occasions. I've even gone so far as to copy the Fonts from my MacBook to the iMac in case there's a corrupt font.

Following those procedures, Word opens fine and will even open some of the files on my computer. However, certain files cause it to immediately crash. Word on my MacBook can open these very same files with no problem.

Often after trying to open a file with no success, Word will not open at all after several additional attempts. If I delete the User/Library/Preferences/Microsoft folder and the 'com.microsoft.word.plist' file it will start opening again.

Any suggestions will help?

Is there a way to leverage the good copy of Word on my MacBook to fix the bad copy on my iMac?

Thanks,
Tom

Word 2004 version 11.5.0 and Leopard version 10.5.4

 

[CyberTaz]

Are both systems updated to the same level? Office 11.5.1 is the most
current. I also see no reference to repairing disk permissions in any of the
things you say you've done. Try that along with shutting down & starting up
- not simply selecting Restart or Log Out/In.

How do things work if you run Word from a different user account on the
problem system?

Also, keep in mind that unless you're networked & actually attempting to
open a file from the same shared store they're *not* the same file - they're
separate copies of it. It's entirely possible for one copy to be corrupted.

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

 

[RJF16]

Bob,
Both systems are updated-Office 11.5.1 didn't apply to Word, so Word's current version is 11.5.0.

Most the files I've been having issues with are on a thumb drive--they work fine on my MacBook (both on Mac and Windows side) and on another PC I own.

I actually spent over an hour on the phone with MS support yesterday. We created another user, manipulated fonts, repaired permissions--no change.

MS support suggest I call Apple to see if they have any suggestions because we tried every trick in the book.

One interesting note: MS had me open Excel at one point and it suffered the same failure while attempting to open. So, whatever is causing it may be common to both applications?

Thanks for the help!
Tom

 

[CyberTaz]

Based on what you've reported & your crash log I think you may be barking up
the wrong tree I'm doubting that it's an Office error. My impression is
that there is something funky with OS X or the iMac hardware/firmware.

My next step would be to re-apply 10.5.4 using the apprpriate Combo updater
for Leopard, repair permissions, then do a cold reboot. The Combo updater is
available here:

http://www.apple.com/support/downloads/macosx1054comboupdate.html

If that doesn't improve things:

How old is the iMac? Which specific model? Have you had any similar behavior
with other software? Do you leave it running 24/7? Have you noticed any
erratic behavior with Date/Time - especially after you power down then
reboot? Try disconnecting from the internet & restarting - What happens to
your Date/Time system settings?

BTW - Please confine all messages on the same subject to a single thread. It
makes it harder on everyone - including yourself - to follow if you have
more than one concurrent topic

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

 

[RJF16]

Bob,
Sorry about the duplicate threads...

I'm in the process of re-installing the 10.5.4 update. While it's downloading, here's the rest of the info you requested:
- Model iMac5,1 with 2.16 GHz Intel processor & 1 GB SDRAM -- bought it Jan 07
- Office 2004 (mainly Word) is the only software that is acting funny
- Within the last two months, we moved and started leaving the computer on 24/7... using it to stream to AppleTV so left it running full-time
- I've not noticed anything weird with the date/time. However, previous to Word starting to crash, I noticed Word saving my files (after hitting the Save button) as 'Word Work Files' with the wrong date (something in the early 1900s). It would sometimes take Word two to three 'Save' attempts to get rid of the Word Work File and save the document as It's actual file name.

I'll let you know how the re-install goes and any odd time issues upon reboot.

Thanks for the help,
Tom

 

[CyberTaz]

Thanks for the update. What you describe further reinforces my belief that
the problem is external of Word. Application programs don't do the saving -
they simply send a directive to the OS whose responsibility it is to handle
the task from there... That's the main thing a [Disk] Operating system is
all about. Why it seems to occur only with Word files I don't know.

One thing I *can* tell you without hesitation is that running Office 2008 in
Leopard with only 1 GB RAM is a train wreck in waiting and could be a factor
here. That's one of the main reasons why Apple started shipping 2 GB units
once Leopard hit the street.

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

 

[RJF16]

Bob,
I re-applied 10.5.4, repaired permissions and started back up from a cold-boot. It worked! I can now access all of the files I couldn't access a bit earlier.

If you were sitting next to me, I'd kiss you! Thanks for all your help!

Tom

Thanks for the update. What you describe further reinforces my belief that
the problem is external of Word. Application programs don't do the saving -
they simply send a directive to the OS whose responsibility it is to handle
the task from there... That's the main thing a [Disk] Operating system is
all about. Why it seems to occur only with Word files I don't know.

One thing I *can* tell you without hesitation is that running Office 2008 in
Leopard with only 1 GB RAM is a train wreck in waiting and could be a factor
here. That's one of the main reasons why Apple started shipping 2 GB units
once Leopard hit the street.

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

Bob,
Sorry about the duplicate threads...

I'm in the process of re-installing the 10.5.4 update. While it's downloading,
here's the rest of the info you requested:
- Model iMac5,1 with 2.16 GHz Intel processor & 1 GB SDRAM -- bought it Jan 07
- Office 2004 (mainly Word) is the only software that is acting funny
- Within the last two months, we moved and started leaving the computer on
24/7... using it to stream to AppleTV so left it running full-time
- I've not noticed anything weird with the date/time. However, previous to
Word starting to crash, I noticed Word saving my files (after hitting the Save
button) as 'Word Work Files' with the wrong date (something in the early
1900s). It would sometimes take Word two to three 'Save' attempts to get rid
of the Word Work File and save the document as It's actual file name.

I'll let you know how the re-install goes and any odd time issues upon reboot.

Thanks for the help,
Tom

 

[CyberTaz]

I've done you a small favor & by *not* sitting next to me you've done me a
greater one Glad it worked out & many thanks for taking the time to let
us know. I'm sure it will be helpful to others!

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

Bob,
I re-applied 10.5.4, repaired permissions and started back up from a
cold-boot. It worked! I can now access all of the files I couldn't access a
bit earlier.

If you were sitting next to me, I'd kiss you! Thanks for all your help!

Tom

Thanks for the update. What you describe further reinforces my belief that
the problem is external of Word. Application programs don't do the saving -
they simply send a directive to the OS whose responsibility it is to handle
the task from there... That's the main thing a [Disk] Operating system is
all about. Why it seems to occur only with Word files I don't know.

One thing I *can* tell you without hesitation is that running Office 2008 in
Leopard with only 1 GB RAM is a train wreck in waiting and could be a factor
here. That's one of the main reasons why Apple started shipping 2 GB units
once Leopard hit the street.

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

Bob,
Sorry about the duplicate threads...

I'm in the process of re-installing the 10.5.4 update. While it's
downloading,
here's the rest of the info you requested:
- Model iMac5,1 with 2.16 GHz Intel processor & 1 GB SDRAM -- bought it Jan
07
- Office 2004 (mainly Word) is the only software that is acting funny
- Within the last two months, we moved and started leaving the computer on
24/7... using it to stream to AppleTV so left it running full-time
- I've not noticed anything weird with the date/time. However, previous to
Word starting to crash, I noticed Word saving my files (after hitting the
Save
button) as 'Word Work Files' with the wrong date (something in the early
1900s). It would sometimes take Word two to three 'Save' attempts to get rid
of the Word Work File and save the document as It's actual file name.

I'll let you know how the re-install goes and any odd time issues upon
reboot.

Thanks for the help,
Tom