Default version of Word

I have a new computer loaded with Works, which includes Word2002. I use Word 6.0 (office95) and like it, and do not like 2002. I also have a shortcut icon on my desktop to load version 6.0 (it should load C:\msoffice\winword\winword.exe) but Word2002 loads instead.

It appears Mr Gates wants me to use version 2002 so I will become married to it - as version 6.0 cannot read version 2002 files.

What causes this, and how do I stop it?

Any help will be appreciated.

Jack Wert

 

Can't you uninstall Word 2002 if you don't use it? Is the Word 2002 file also named winword.exe? Maybe you could try renaming it to something else so Windows will find the right one.

None of the versions of Word (that I know of) are backwards compatible. I have Word 2000 and earlier versions won't open documents created with it.

 

Word default

md2lgvk - Thanks for your reply. I realize I can probalby just uninstall word 2002, but would like to keep it available in case I might need it to read files I get from someone else. I just do not want it to "take over" my word processing unless asked for.

The strange thing is my icon links to the proper word.exe, (version 6.0) but somehow sometimes word 2002 screen comes up. I do not even know where it is on the disk, but will look into it to see if your suggestion of a name change may solve the problem.

Thanks, again. I will let you know how I make out.

jvwert

 

Just do a Start>Find>Files or Folders and look for winword.exe. If it's on there more than once you'll find them.

 

Disabling Word 2002 default

I tried two things, and neither was successful. First I renamed the 2002 version as winward.exe, and then it kept trying to load 2002 from a CD. That really messed me up every time I tried to save, open or other function in Word 7.0

Then, I went through a series of "clickings" in the Help and Support center whereby - after right clicking on a word file and changing its file association it changes all like (.doc) files to the new association.

That seemed to work, but then I could not open a file from a file management program (such as Singularity - my favorite). Also, the icon on the file listing remained that of Word 2002. So I went back to my problem.

I want to get to the root of the problem - where XP creates the default and correct that.

Thanks for trying.

jvwert

 

See if the information in MS KB article How to Resolve Problems with Running Multiple Versions of Word on the Same Computer is any help.

Might be something in Cannot Start Other Word Version When Multiple Versions Are Installed, too.

 

Word 2002 Default

Thanks, miz, but the problems indicated in your two references are not mine. They relate to not being able to start one version of Word when two are loaded on same computer. I can start and run both Word 7.0 and 2002, but my "working version of Word is 7.0, yet all of my .doc files are listed in my file manager as Word 2002 files, and if I open one from that file manager, they come up in 2002, rather than 7.0, and that is a problem for me.

Something in my system somehow links all .doc files with 2002 rather than 7.0. I want to know how to defeat that.

Thanks

jvwert

 

I use OpenOffice as my default editor. This is a quote from their website:
"The ability to import and export many different types of documents and templates in a huge range of formats from HTML to MS Office XP. You can work seamlessly with your colleagues, school or friends, no matter what computer you use. "

http://www.openoffice.org/

Best of all, this baby is free. I've been using it for over a year and have been quite satisfied. HTH

 

Jack:

Have you tried modifying your file associations?

NOTE: Prior to making the changes outlined below make sure that you record the original path shown in the "Application Used to Perform Action" box in case you want to change it back.

Open Windows Explorer, click on Tools>Folder Options and then on the "File Types" tab.

Scroll down until you find the .DOC extension(s). You may see several to include; DOC, DOCHTML, and DOCMHTML.

Click once on the DOC extension to select it.

Click the Advanced Button to open the Edit File window.

Double Click on Open.

In the "Application Used to Perform Action" box make sure that the path shown points to the location of your Word 6.0 .exe file.

After making changes click OK and OK to get back to the folder option window.

I don't know if its necessary with Word 6.0 but you might also need to make these changes to the DOCHTML and DOCMHTML extensions if they appear.

On a related note; On March 5th md2lgyk wrote

I have not experienced this problem. I have Word 97 on my Office System and Word 2002 on my Home System. I routinely open, create, modify, and save documents between these two versions with no problems.

HTH

 

Your desktop shortcut may be the special Office shortcut, which will load the registered version of WINWORD. If you set up a specific shortcut to C:\msoffice\winword\winword.exe it should work. I have Office 2000, Winword 6 and Winword 2 all available.

 

Word file association default

To Joanna - Thanks for your suggestion to try OpenOffice. I had that on my old computer, and un-installed it because It took over. For example, loading a file from a desktoop shortcut icon loaded it in OpenOffice Word rather than MS Word. I could not find a way to allow me to use OpenOffice only when I wanted it. Other than that, it certainly looked like a great program and I would liked to have been able to give it a try while still being able to use MSOffice as my standard - at least until I wanted to change over.

Thanks

jvwert

 

Word default file association

Wow, I thought I had solved my problem. I un-installed Word 2002, and Microsoft Word addins, and when I loaded a .doc file from my file managed, it came up in a screen I thought was Word 7.0. But, it turned out to be WordPad, and that is even tougher to get rid or. It seems to be embedded in XP, and when I tried to rename it in order to disable it, XP created a new one.

So, back to Go. It just seems that Microsoft does everything possible to make it tough for users to continue using older versions. At least they should allow us the choice.

I still would like to find out just where in the system it (XP) assigns a certain program when a .doc file is opened from other than a Word program.

Is it somewhere in the Registry?

 

Open IE, tools, Internet Options, programs- now set your default editors.

If you set your HTML default to Open Office, you don't have to ever get the little "What program do you want to open this file with?" dialog box from XP. ( I hate that one- why ask if you want to open a file with an incompatible program anyway? But, that's another M$ rant altogether. )

I seem to be able to open any older M$ file with XP, so I don't understand why you are having backwards capability problems. Probably something someone else could answer better than me.

 

jvwert:

Did you try the suggestion I posted on March 15th concerning changing your file associations for .doc files?

If that didn't work here's another suggestion;

Open Windows Explorer, navigate to your "My Documents folder ", right click on a .doc file, select "Open With" from the pop-up menu, and click on "Choose Program ".

In the "Open With" window click on the "Browse" button. Navigate to the location of your Word 7.0 .exe file. Select this and click on OK. Then place a check-mark in "Always use the selected program to open this kind of file" and then click OK.

Let us know if this resolves your problem.

Rod

 

Word default file extention association

Rod - Yes, I did go through the process described in your 15 march response. I thought I had covered that in an earlier posting. After doing what you recommended, I cannot open files from either file manager - Singularity, or Windoew Explorer. I get a little error screen that states: "(null) is not a valid Win32 application. "

So, I went back to where I was. Now I have deleted Word 2002, and my default program is WordPad. That is almost as bad as 2002, but I will live with it until I find a better solution.

Something makes me think that - possibly in the Registry - there is an assignment for the .doc extension. I looked around in the Registry, but did not find anything that indicated to me that that is where it "hapens" - but I do not know enough to decide it is not there somewhere.

Life goes on.

Thanks for your help

 

Now that you've uninstalled Word 2002, have you tried uninstalling Word 7.0 and then reinstalling it to see if this will resolve your association problem.

Rod

 

Word doc default file association

Rod and Johanna -

To show that perseverance pays off, I decided to try the Windows Explorer/Tools/Folder Options/File Types/Change routine (Rod 15 March)- one which I had tried while Word 2002 was still installed - without success.

This time it worked fine. I switched from WordPad to Word 7.0 successfully, and now all is well.


Johanna - I did not understand your IE bit, as my problem does not relate to the net - only locally in WindowsXP.

Thanks, again, for your help.

Jack

 

Jack:

Glad to hear things worked out. Thanks for posting back.

Rod