My .doc files won't open

I recently installed WinXP SP2.
Maybe it is only coincidental but now I cannot open .doc files in WordPad anymore. Most of these documents were transferred over from my old Win98 PC a month ago.
Now the tooltip when I pass the cursor over these .doc files shows them to be "Microsoft Word Documents ", even though I do not have Word.
When I click on one of the .doc files, I get a message "Cannot load Word for Word 6.0 files ". (See right hand image below.) I have tried right click on several of the .doc files, clicked Open With and selected WordPad plus checked the box at the bottom "Always use this program... "|OK. But no luck. DOC files show as to be opened with WordPad in Folder Options|File Types, but they do not.
I have fiddled with FolderOptions|File Types and made sure .doc files should open using "C:\Program Files\Windows NT\Accessories\wordpad.exe" "%1%. Still no luck. Now I get a message that Windows cannot find the .doc file I just clicked on!! (But obviously it is there.) (see image below)
Fortunately, I have WordViewer, so still can open the .doc files to view them, but of course cannot do any editing. And I can open in my word editor (Lotus).
As mentioned I do not have Word, so could not have created these "Microsoft Word Documents ".
P.S. Have I misunderstood the command that should be used to open a .doc file in WordPad?
Or has WordPad changed in WinXP? I notice that I cannot save as .doc anymore when I use WordPad. Is this the way WordPad works in WinXP?
WHAT TO DO?

 

I have found part of answer. WordPad in XP is different than in Win98.
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;283781&Product=winxp
This MSKB article says "WordPad can still open a Word for Windows 6.0 file, but files can no longer be saved as Word for Windows 6.0 files. "
Sadly I am not experiencing the first part of that sentence--unless, with the fiddling, I have messed up the File Types command for .doc files. Would someone please post what is in the "Application used to perform action" box for .doc?
Still looking for help as to what to use to open these old .doc files which indeed were saved as .doc files in "Word for Windows 6.0 ".

 

On my computer running XP Home and Office 2000 Pro, in the "Action" field, it has &Open.

In the "Application used to perform action" field it has "C:\Program Files\Microsoft Office\Office\WINWORD.EXE" /n (with the quotes).

Then it has "Use DDE" checked with [REM _DDE_Direct][FileOpen( "%1 ")] in the "DDE Message" field.

 

I don't have Word and use Wordpad almost daily. Many of my DOC files were moved from WIN98SE.

When I pass the cursor over these files it shows them to be Type: Wordpad Document

Under Details for "DOC" extension I have Opens with: WordPad and also Files with extension "DOC" are of type "Wordpad Document ". To change settings that affect all "Wordpad Document" files, click Advanced

Under Application used to perform action: I have "C:\Program Files\Windows NT\Accessories\WORDPAD.EXE" "%1" - I don't have % after 1

Under Actions I have open - I don't have &Open

There is a check in the Use DDE box with the box for DDE Message: empty

The box for Application: has WORDPAD

The box for Topic: has System

 

June--Thank you very much. Your information is exactly what I wanted. I set up everything as you suggested, but unfortunately, still get the "Cannot load Word for Windows 6.0 Files" message.
BUT, I FOUND THE SOLUTION!!!
I must have spent at least five hours on this yesterday, but never thought to go to www.google.com (which is probably where I get info for half my posts here ). Finally did today. Entered "Can not load Word for Windows 6.0 files" and found (among many references)
http://support.microsoft.com/?kbid=870883
Entered "EnableLegacyConverters" into my Registry and all is well.
"Legacy Converters "!! Who'd have guessed?
Kinda mean that no mention of this is in that other MS article
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;283781&Product=winxp
I suspect this fix would not have worked without your info since I had messed up the command in the WordPad File Type, so thanks again.

P.S. Something similar occurs with several other apps. The fix is more or less the same
http://support.microsoft.com/?kbid=883090

 

Glad you finally came up with an easy solution to your annoying problem. It is so aggravating when you have to spend a lot of time just to get everything working good. It may be irrelevant but my files were created with Wordpad and I have never had Word installed.

 

WelshJim,
I don't know how much text work you do, but Open Office is a great program. It works similarly to Office, except it has more features and is FREE. I have MS Office, and find myself doing more and more on OO. I also use it as my default editor, because it will open any text file type, regardless of what program created it. OO allows you to save a text file with the extension of your choice, also, so that you can share files with people who use other software. OO is very functional- you can install other tools, too. (Select the custom install for your choices) Oh, and there is the FREE part. Gotta love that!

Johanna

 

This morning I installed SP2. When I attempted to open Wordpad documents created while I had WIN98SE I got "Can not load Word for Windows 6.0 files ". Wordpad files created using XP opened okay. I made the regedit change mentioned here http://www.windowsbbs.com/showthread.php?t=34531 and instantly the problem was solved.

Thank you Jim...you provided a quick solution for this annoying problem!!!!

 

June--So SP2 is the culprit. I thought I had been able to open those old .doc files in SP1, but I only had it a few weeks before installing SP2.
So pleased to hear that your helping me has allowed me to help you!!
P.S. The technical reason why this is happening is because Rich Text Format (RTF) converters are disabled in Windows XP SP2.