Resolved File associations with .docx

I am having a problem getting Windows to associate .docx files with Word 2003. Whether I use the open-with context menu, or go into the Control Panel and have the default programs dialog do this, when I browse for the program that I want to open up DOCX files and select Winword, I am always brought back to the window which originally displays a few options--but Word 2003 is never there (even after just selecting it). You can see what I mean here with this screenshot: http://paulrittman.com/DefaultProgram.png

That screenshot was taken just AFTER I had selected Word 2003 (Winword in the folder) to open up DOCX files.

I have Office 2010 and 2003 installed on the same system, and just to avoid this, I have installed only Word 2003 (from Office 2003), and have NOT installed Word 2010--but still I'm having this problem.

Is there a way to get Windows to let me associate Word 2003 with DOCX? Or is there a third-party utility that lets you change file associations?

 

Have you tried Googling "docx "? Several explanations and suggestions there.

Let us know if that helps and what solution worked best for you.

 

Yes, I've installed that compatibility pack.

Perhaps I can clarify--the issue isn't actually viewing these DOCX files in Word 2003--I can do that easily enough. The problem is, Windows won't associate Word 2003 as the default program to open them.

 

I'd rather not import the reg file, as I only want to change this one file association, instead of all the other files (such as image files).

The instructions for manually changing the file association is what I've been doing, and for whatever reason Windows isn't showing Word 2003 as an option to be selected in the open with dialog. I can browse to it, but after clicking on that program/exe, it isn't appearing in the dialog after I select it.

 

This is really a shot in the dark, and I assume you have already tried this, but here goes:

Have you clicked this (see attachment) arrow?

Does Word 2003 come up there?

 

I can find it when I browse. It does not come up on the top part, however.

After selecting it (after browsing to find the exe), it does not appear in the top part, so I'm never able to tell Windows to open up DOCX files with Word 2003.

 

No as I said above I have Office 2003 and 2010, although only Word 2003 installed (for Office 2010, I removed Word, b/c of too many file association problems--go figure).

OK I'll do that and then report back the status of the problem.

 

Nope, that (repair install?) action didn't help matters any.

Thanks anyways.

 

Have you tried a repair of Office 2003?

(Click "Start ", type in appwiz.cpl and press [Enter]. Select "Microsoft Office <standard, professional, whatever> 2003" and then click the "Change" button. Select "Reinstall or Repair ", click the "Next >" button and then follow the on-screen instructions).​

 

I want to use Word 2003, not Word 2010. So when I had both installed, it seemed like it was very tough for me to get 2003 to be the default handler--much like it is now. Every time I'd go in and try to make 2003 the default, Windows would insist on keeping 2010--I'd have the same problem that I reported in this thread. So I figured that I would "help" Windows out by entirely uninstalling 2010, but Windows doesn't seem to get the hint.

 

Just tried that right now, but no, the situation is the same. Even rebooted, but didn't work.

 

Can you right click on the .docx file and get any choices of what program to use to open it with?
You may or may not have to save it someplace first to do this.

 

See the screenshot linked to above. Those are my choices, both before and after I browse and find Word 2003.

 

Scroll down on this "How to uninstall or remove Microsoft Office 2010 suites" page and run the "Uninstall Microsoft Office 2010 suites with Microsoft Fix it "