MS Word Problems

Joined
Jan 6, 2011
Messages
150
Reaction score
1
After going to "Help" in MS Word 2003 to restore things to default there since something happened that caused my upper and bottom page margins (the blank white spaces above and below text) to disappear. Now for some reason, whenever I click a .DOC file a pop-up comes up saying "There was an error sending the command to the program" and then a Windows Installer pop-up comes and loads up Word...but without the document.

When clicking on just Word itself, the Windows Installer runs saying "Preparing to Install..." EACH and every time I load up the program. Why? I thought this happens only with a few things like the browser Opera when you don't use it for a long time.

Someone please tell me how to make it stop installing each time I load up the program and to have my Word files load right away.
 
Last edited:

TrainableMan

^ The World's First ^
Moderator
Joined
May 10, 2010
Messages
9,353
Reaction score
1,587
Your product is old and must be set to run in compatibility mode. See HERE but tweak the location because your Word will not be in the folder listed.
 
Joined
Jan 6, 2011
Messages
150
Reaction score
1
Wow...the list of suggestions go on and on in that page. People claiming they don't work, etc.

But if I have the time I'll probably try some fixes out. It's not killing me, but a bit annoying.
 

TrainableMan

^ The World's First ^
Moderator
Joined
May 10, 2010
Messages
9,353
Reaction score
1,587
Follow the steps and check if that helps: 1. Go to the location C:\Program File\Microsoft Office\Office 12\Winword.exe
(If you are using a 64bit machine, then you would have to go to C:\Program files x86\Microsoft Office\Office 12\Winword.exe)
2. Right click on Winword.exe and click onProperties and then click on Compatibility tab. Check if you have any check mark in any of the compatibility mode options. Make sure you also click on the option"change settings for all users" tab at the bottom of the same screen and look for similar check boxes in the window.
3. Uncheck the option Run as Administrator option is you have it checked.
4. If you see any check boxes in the compatibility mode options,uncheck all the boxes and click on Apply and OK.
5. Try to open Word now and check.
Try this one!
 
Joined
Jan 6, 2011
Messages
150
Reaction score
1
Would a system restore do as well (fix the issue)? Since that's been saving me from a lot of crap on my XP computer lately...
 

TrainableMan

^ The World's First ^
Moderator
Joined
May 10, 2010
Messages
9,353
Reaction score
1,587
NO. Word settings are not stored in the registry and a system restore does nothing to programs or data. System Restore is for the Operating System.

Uninstall and then a complete reinstall of Word may work to restore all the factory settings.
 
Joined
Oct 1, 2011
Messages
7
Reaction score
0
I've had this problem also, as TrainableMan said, a complete uninstall, and reinstall is your only option, in my experience.
 
Joined
Jan 6, 2011
Messages
150
Reaction score
1
NO. Word settings are not stored in the registry and a system restore does nothing to programs or data. System Restore is for the Operating System.

Uninstall and then a complete reinstall of Word may work to restore all the factory settings.
...So what's all this stuff I hear about system restores "undoing" not only updates, but software installations?

It even tells you what programs it'll "uninstall" in the interval you're crossing to the past.
 

TrainableMan

^ The World's First ^
Moderator
Joined
May 10, 2010
Messages
9,353
Reaction score
1,587
OK, a clarification. Yes recently installed programs would be removed back to the restore point. The reason for this is simple, the registry will be restored so all entries made to the registry by those installs will be lost and they would likely no longer function.

But, are you willing & do you even have a system restore clear back to a time before Word was installed on your machine? If yes, then the restore may also delete the Word program but in that case what is the point; why remove every windows update and everything else that was also installed since then?

Just uninstall the Word.
 
Joined
Jan 6, 2011
Messages
150
Reaction score
1
LOL @ "uninstall the Word" that made me laugh...:D (because I'd expect someone to say uninstall Word, the program, not the Word lol)

But btw the system restore I spoke of earlier that saved me from the MS Word crap actually worked. It no longer did the problems I mentioned in the opening post.

Thanks for your help btw and in the keylogger thread. :p
 

TrainableMan

^ The World's First ^
Moderator
Joined
May 10, 2010
Messages
9,353
Reaction score
1,587
Personally I would be more apt to say "Microsoft Word" than "Word, the program" but I felt "Microsoft" was implied as it was the topic of conversation.

You're welcome and I''m glad you got it worked out.
 

Ask a Question

Want to reply to this thread or ask your own question?

You'll need to choose a username for the site, which only take a couple of moments. After that, you can post your question and our members will help you out.

Ask a Question

Top