Word docs "not available"/normal.dot prob?

Using Office/Word 2000; Outlook 2000; OE 5.5; Win98SE
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I've started using Outlook for contacts and calendar and so went to MS for updates and installed SP-3.

Now I cannot open any old or new documents in Word. Word will open but documents get error message:
! The file _x_ .doc is not available.

I hit OK & try to close Word; get message:
The file Normal.dot already exists. Do you want to replce the existing file?
I tried "no" first (and steps below, no luck), then "yes ".

Try again to close Word & get message:
! Changes have been made that affect the global template, normal.dot Do you want to save these changes?
I tried "no" and then "yes ". World closes now but problem persists.

I tried renaming the normal.dot file to "oldnormal.dot" but no luck.

Thanks for any help!

 

Several questions come to mind.....

Is that the complete message "The file _x_ .doc is not available "?

How are you trying to access the file(s)?

Have you rebooted the computer since this started?

Are you sure Word closes completely?

Are the files you're trying to open shared files? on a network? local drive? floppy disk? CD?

That's a good start, answer those and we'll go from there.

 

(First, forgot to mention that I also installed the current Office updates)

Is that the complete message "The file _x_ .doc is not available "?
Yes, where _x_ is any file/doc name I try.

How are you trying to access the file(s)?
From shortcuts on my desktop, My Documents, and Word "File" dropdown of recent docs (double clicking and right click/open).

Have you rebooted...?
Twice.

Are you sure Word closes...?
It's not in the list if I then hit Control/Alt/Del.

Are the files you're trying to open ....?
They're on my local C-drive. My PC is a stand alone. I've never used (or even seen) the share option for my docs.

Hope that info helps.

 

The only times I've seen that problem with the normal.dot file is when 2 people are using a shared copy of Word at the same time. Which is why I was asking about Word closing completely.

You didn't mention what OS you're running, I'm guessing Win 2K, have you checked to see if the permissions got hosed with the updates?

 

Thanks for trying.
Decided it was time to use the elephant gun: I uninstalled and re-installed Office, and that fixed the problem.

 

Well, that's one way to fix it

Had you tried the Detect and Repair feature?

Glad all's well