Stupid problem with MS word...

TerrorFirmer

I have an important word document on my pc at work, went to open it this morning to continue working, and now it won't open - just get simple error message saying "cannot open this file....make sure it is doc extension" etc. Now, there's no unusual formatting in the file, or pictures, or anything like that. Just plain regular text. All my other word docs open grand, just not this one.

Really need this file back, it's pretty important and I hadn't gotten around to getting a copy put on the network drive....:(

Any idea of what I can do? My knowledge of applications like Word and Excel is embarrassingly simplistic really to be honest, don't use them all that much. Anyone know any alternative software for opening word files?

Thanks.

Ponster

I hope this link helps !


http://support.microsoft.com/kb/813980/

You receive an error message when you try to open or replace a Word 2003 document.



Case 4
When you try to open a Word document, the document is not opened, and you receive the following error message:

Word cannot open the document. Try one or more of the following:

* On the File menu, click Open to open the document.
* Make sure the document has a .DOC extension.
(path\file_name)


CAUSE

This problem occurs if the Word document that you are trying to open or replace is encrypted with a type of file encryption that is not available on your computer.

TerrorFirmer

Yeah, thats the exact problem. However, I've been using this very computer to work on the file for the last few days, hasn't been transferred or anything....so annoying

I'll try some of those workarouns, thanks ponster, appreciate it.

Cableguy

If you really just want the text back and are not to worried about the formating. Hold down the shift key and right click the document and open with wordpad. You should be able to get the text back.

or

Open word and then select "File" and "Open" and then change the open option in the bottom right hand corner of the screen to "Open and Repair" See picture:

[IMG]C:\Word repair.jpg[/IMG]



Hope that helps.

TerrorFirmer

Thanks cableguy, but not working. When opened with Wordpad, all I get is jumbled nonsense.....I had already tried that first thing, with no luck.

Seems likely at this stage its completely gone.....for god knows what reason....a few days work down the drain....:(

mordeith

You could try and open the document in OpenOffice if you have it. Alternatively copy it to the network drive and see if it open's on someone else's PC (that's a long shot though)

Cableguy

Try to open with just notepad instead of wordpad or try to google for some word repair programs there are a few that might work.

Hagar

Search your c: drive for filename.* you might be lucky enough to find a backup or temp version of it somewhere.

Ponster

As mordeith said, OpenOffice can open and edit MS Word files and may do a better job with a corrupt file than Word itself.

if you want to send the file along so I can take a shot at it then feel free to.