Problem opening Word 2000

[raglanr]

Hi Helpers:

Here's a new one! I tried opening a Word attachment from an email and to my surprise Word would not open and my computer would not budge! So, I had to reset it.

After several tries, I did the following with no result:
1. Restarted my computer
2. Reinstalled Word 2000
3. Reinstalled Windows ME
4. Defraged

My computer is WindowsME, Intel 700, 20GB.

All other PC operations appear to be functioning well.

Grateful for any assistance.

[YvetteKuhns]

How much RAM do you have? How much available RAM do you have? Try RAM Def XT to defrag your RAM. If you are trying to use Word while running Norton System Works or Antivirus and other programs, the computer may lock up on you and you have to reboot.

This happened to me last year and just a few weeks ago for a client of mine using Windows 98.

[Jade Dragon]

Did you try to clear out your computer's cache folder?

If you try to open an attachement directly from an email it will attempt to write to a cache file. You cache file has a set limit as to how much it is allowed to write to your hard drive. If your cache/temp folder is full it may corrupt the extraction of the file or not be able to open it at all.

You can also try to save the attachement first (right click save attachment as....) then open it in word.

Also make sure that the word doc came from a reliable source. There was a virus a few weeks ago that hid it's name as a .doc file but in reality it was an exe file. If the file is invalid or of a format not recogized by your version of Word then it also will not open. (ie: the user sent it to you using Word 2004 and you have Word 2000 - formats may be different)

=)
Jade

[The Linguist]

Originally posted by Jade Dragon
[B]If the file is invalid or of a format not recogized by your version of Word then it also will not open. (ie: the user sent it to you using Word 2004 and you have Word 2000 - formats may be different)

Word files are all backward compatible. I know because I use word 2003 at home, but word 2000 at work and everything opens no problem at either computer.

[YvetteKuhns]

Word attachment from an email

When I first replied, I thought you were opening a known Word document. Since it was sent to you, it could be corrupted or possibly created on another version. They don't ALWAYS work.

One of my programmers send me his updated resume on Word 2003 and I couldn't open it. I edited his old resume in Word 2000 and saved it for him to use. He could open and edit it.

Yet others have claimed to successfully send resumes created in Word 2003 to me. Perhaps they just get corrupted during the send.

[raglanr]

Hi Yvette & Jade:

Thanks very much for responding.

I am not familiar with 'RAM Def XT', Yvette. Would you please advise further? My computer has a 64 MB RAM, but in my ignorance, I do not know how to determine how much is available. Maybe I need a bigger RAM? I have over 14GBs of unused memory on my Hard Drive, however.

I have followed your suggestions, Jade, but noticed Word still won't open, even from scratch to get a blank page! So, it appears there is something amiss with my Word Program itself. However, the problem started when I tried to open the attachment. So, I'll recheck for possible virus.

I'm baffled!

[YvetteKuhns]

Here is the link to RAM Def XT, but with only 64 MB of RAM, I think you need to buy more!

http://vstef.softnews.ro/downloads.php

I am pushing my luck with 384 MB, but my other 256 MB RAM stick is going into another tower. Or is it? ;)

My client discovered her low RAM trying to open Word. For me, Photoshop would lock up my computer!

[raglanr]

Well. I had to visit my computer expert with the problem. He said he discovered a virus (can't recall its name) which my AV programme was holding at bay, i.e. the AV was protecting the Word software causing it not to open? I still don't understand. What is more surprising, he claimed my AV programme detected the virus, but it never showed up for me!

Was I being duped? My knowledge of these things is too limited to make a judgement. Word works now, but an original problem - freezing - has reared its ugly head once more.

Oh these dumb computers!

[YvetteKuhns]

Your AV software may find a virus and quarantine it, which means it detects a virus in a file (which can be a Word file) and keeps that file or program from being opened to keep the virus from spreading.

It is possible that Microsoft Word or a Word document had a virus. Did the tech remove/delete a Word document? Did he/she uninstall and reinstall Microsoft Word?

You may still see the problem with Word if the tech simply removed the corrupted file and the Word program is corrupted.

You may also have another or a different problem. Did you check your amount of available RAM? This solved the problem for my client. See this screenshot:

http://www.powerpageswebdesign.com/RAMDefScreenshot.jpg

I guess I should install the other 256 RAM stick I bought! :D