Word 97 glitches, but is still open

[ChromWolf]

I ask this in here because it's the best fitting category, and the problem is occuring under Windows 98 (I don't know whether it's 1st or 2nd edition)... Here goes.

My mother works a secretarial position, and works with Word and Excel often. A few days ago, while she had two copies of Word open (for two different docs), she wanted to minimize one and maximize the other. She says that when she tried to do this, Word glitched out... She tried restarting, several other minor things, no help. When she tries to open Word on its own or via trying to open a document, Word loads, and appears correctly in the Close Program list and on the Taskbar, but is not visible (as though there is not enough memory, which is NOT the case). She can't in any way switch to Word. If she opened Word via trying to open a document, Word still creates the proper temp document file, the ~$....tmp file, etc., but Word can't actually be seen. I walked her through an un/reinstall of Word over the phone two days ago---no help. Yesterday, I came in to her workplace, and removed the entirity of Word myself. I then moved C:\Program Files\Microsoft Office\Office to the desktop, then did the reinstall of ALL of Office. (Note: the install was done in safe mode; I had copied the install CD to the HD. Also, Word DID load correctly in Safe Mode.) The problem, at the time, was corrected, and she could load any Word Document. (Also, note that only Word is affected---Excel seems fine, as do other Office components)

Today, after she turned the machine on again, the same problem had come back---she can now, once again, no longer use Word.

WHAT COULD BE CAUSING THIS??? I have a FEW options I can try thanks to MSDN (disabling Macros, checking the command in the File Types window to make sure the command for opening Word Documents isn't incorrect, etc.), but as I said, only a few. If these don't work, the company has to take the computer in. It's a small company, and while they bought the parts from a local computer store I happened to have worked for in the past, they had the software work done by someone else, which means any software problems are out of warranty, and cost major $$. What can be done? What's going on here? Also, if anyone knows of the "proper descriptive name" of what's going on here, or the appropriate MSDN article number, I'd LOVE to have that too! Many thanks in advance...

--Rob

<<>>

New Data---

http://support.microsoft.com/support...SRCH&SPR=WRD97

After searching the MSDN database, I found the following work-around (but I am still looking for a full solution and/or more information!):

I added " /a" to the command line in shortcuts to Word, disabling the AutoMacros (according to the MSDN article), so the total command line was as follows:
"C:\Program Files\Microsoft Office\Office\winword.exe" /a

As well, I added the " /a" in both the New and Open command actions under the File Types window. This command line change yields the following results----

When tries to open file from C:\My Documents, gets follow messages:
"Word cannot open the document. Try one of more of the following:
* On the file menu, click Open to open the document
* Make sure the document has a *.doc extension"

Hits OK

"The document name or path is not valid. Try one or more of the following:
* Check the path to make sure it was typed correctly
* On the File Menu, click Open. Search for the file using this dialogue box"

Hits OK

Repeats last message

Hits OK

Word then opens the document, despite the 3 error messages.

When opening Word via shortcut, Word opens correctly
When inside Word, and opening document via File-->Open menu, Word opens Document correctly


I don't know what's going on here, but at least for now, we've gotten word back up to most of its functionality, and my mother can edit documents, but as I said, I'd still like to find a solution and/or get more information. Thanks for the help in advance!

--Rob

[Hpro]

Did you try to delete the file NORMAL.DOT in the office folder and also did you try to empty up the c:\windows\temp folder to start with - it's a common problem for word no to open not to save or just playing crazy because of both of this instances - deleting NORMAL.DOT will not hurt Word in anyway a new one will be created on the next opening of word ..if corrupted then you will get errors like you just explained

If the tep folder is stucked up with *.Wrd or *.tmp files of word then also this will and can cause problems of word - then also defrag your hard drive at once- you will see this will also help to get it running..

Make sure that there is only ONE 1 folder of microsoft office on your computer because that's more than enough - then get all teh FAST START etc of word and DELETE those things - you will find them in the ROOT of your C:\drive...this are three files or just disable the fast start..fast search etc..