MS Word won't open


  1. Posts : 409
    Windows 10 home Version 22H2 (OS Build 19045) and Windows 11 on laptop
       #1

    MS Word won't open


    MS Word won't open any .doc or .docx files. It returns error messages as shown in the screen captures below.

    MS Word won't open-2019-05-19-7-.pngMS Word won't open-2019-05-19-8-.pngMS Word won't open-2019-05-19-9-.png
      My Computers


  2. Posts : 7,871
    Windows 11 Pro 64 bit
       #2

    In Control Panel\All Control Panel Items\Programs and Features right click MS Office then select Change from where you can do a repair install.
    Attachment 234381
      My Computers


  3. Posts : 409
    Windows 10 home Version 22H2 (OS Build 19045) and Windows 11 on laptop
    Thread Starter
       #3

    I tried both the quick and full repairs. Still not getting Word to open. The first error message is "cannot open Normal.dotm" so I found that file and moved it off of my computer. A subsequent error message expanded provides a message in the quote below. It refers to saving the file, but I haven't even opened Word to open a document. My comments in the message are in [blue]:


    "There is a problem saving the file.
    Usually this is because the disk or floppy disk is too small for the file or is full, RAM memory is low, [I don't see a RAM problem with other apps] or there is a permission problem with the drive the file is being saved to.[I don't have permission requirements on any of my drives]
    If the amount of disk space for a paging file is low, save the file to another drive. If the RAM memory is low, [I don't see a RAM problem with other apps] increase available RAM. If permissions
    to the drive do not allow you to save to that drive, save the file to another drive or request permissions from the administrator to save files to the drive.
    Note This error can also occur if the computer is running a version of antivirus software that is incompatible with the Microsoft Office or must be updated."
      My Computers


  4. Posts : 11,247
    Windows / Linux : Arch Linux
       #4

    Hi folks

    @ lbeck

    The .dot or .dotm are Word template files which might actually be missing or corrupt on your machine.
    Try re-installing those . (Word templates not Outlook etc).

    don't worry about the title of this link == the fix is there !!!!

    Nuance Healthcare Service Community

    Often corporates etc have their own templates as well which might have got de-installed.

    Other thing to try is just open a .doc type file.

    If you have a document which refers to one of these template files / styles etc and its missing you'll get an error.

    Cheers
    jimbo
      My Computer


  5. Posts : 409
    Windows 10 home Version 22H2 (OS Build 19045) and Windows 11 on laptop
    Thread Starter
       #5

    jimbo45 said:
    Hi folks
    @ lbeck

    The .dot or .dotm are Word template files which might actually be missing or corrupt on your machine.
    Try re-installing those . (Word templates not Outlook etc).

    don't worry about the title of this link == the fix is there !!!!

    Nuance Healthcare Service Community

    Often corporates etc have their own templates as well which might have got de-installed.

    Other thing to try is just open a .doc type file.

    If you have a document which refers to one of these template files / styles etc and its missing you'll get an error.

    Cheers
    jimbo
    These appear to be excellent suggestions. Unfortunately they didn't work for me. I renamed all .docx files found by searching my computer and opening a .doc file returns the same error messages.

    How do I reinstall my template files?? I can search again, and rename all .dotm and dot files but a full computer search takes a long time. Can I search only a directory? Is there another quick way to rename all template files?

    I am able to open my .docx files in Wordpad.

    The screen capture below is the first to appear and is where the help text copied above comes from.
    MS Word won't open-2019-05-20-2-.png
      My Computers


  6. Posts : 409
    Windows 10 home Version 22H2 (OS Build 19045) and Windows 11 on laptop
    Thread Starter
       #6

    Or maybe the help file was found here.
    MS Word won't open-2019-05-20-5-.png
      My Computers


  7. Posts : 11,247
    Windows / Linux : Arch Linux
       #7

    Hi there

    @lbeck

    More suggestions for you

    Microsoft Word 2010, 2013 - Methods to repair corrupt word document

    Cheers
    jimbo
      My Computer


 

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