Cannot use Word as email editor

[Stuart C]

I have found similar problems in other threads but have been unable to find a
solution to my problem.
I use Outlook and Word 2003.
In outlook, i have always used Word as the email editor. Over the last few
days I have been receiving a message that MS Word cannot be used as the email
editor because Word is unavailable, not installed or not the same version as
Outlook. The Outlook email editor will be used instead!
If I then go into Tool, Options I find that the tick in the box confirming
Word should be used as an email editor has been removed. if I re-tick, and
try again, I receive the same problem. If I try and open Word, it is
essentailly a black screen and I cannot use it.
I then have to log off or re-start and i do receive a message as to if i
want to save changes to any Word documents. I do not have any to save so
select No.
Upon reopening, everything is find until I want to forward or reply to an
email and I receive the same problems. It does not happen if I start a blank
email first, although once I try an reply/forward, all subsequent new blank
emails receive the error message.
I have run a Detect & Repair in both Outlook and Word and this does not
solve the problem from occuring.
Any help or guidance would be appreciated.
Thank you.

 

[Roady [MVP]]

If I try and open Word, it is

essentailly a black screen and I cannot use it.

So you have Word issues? Why do you expect Outlook to be able to use Word as
the email editor then? Fix Word first.

 

[Stuart C]

Dear Roady,
Thank you for your reply.
Word actually works fine. It is only when I try and reply or forward an
email in Outlook I receive the message that it is not
installed/unavailble/different version, and I subsequently cannot use Word
unless I re-boot. Word is fine until I try and use Outlook and to use Word as
an email editor.
Further advice would be appreciated.
Stuart

 

[Roady [MVP]]

Locate normal.dot and rename it to .old
Does it work correctly now?

 

[VanguardLH]

in message

I use Outlook and Word 2003.

Are they *both* the 2003 version?

In outlook, i have always used Word as the email editor.

How long in "always"?

Over the last few
days I have been receiving a message that MS Word cannot be used as
the email
editor because Word is unavailable, not installed or not the same
version as
Outlook. The Outlook email editor will be used instead!

Same error occurs after you reboot your computer?

If I then go into Tool, Options I find that the tick in the box
confirming
Word should be used as an email editor has been removed.

Were Outlook and Word installed as part of the same MS Office suite?
If not, are Outlook and Word the *same* version? You cannot, for
example, mix Outlook 2003 with Word 2002.

if I re-tick, and
try again, I receive the same problem. If I try and open Word, it is
essentailly a black screen and I cannot use it.

Which means you have a problem with Word, not with Outlook. Have you
tried a reboot? Have you tried uninstalling Word and then
reinstalling it? There are separate newsgroups to address problems
with Word.

I then have to log off or re-start and i do receive a message as to
if i
want to save changes to any Word documents. I do not have any to
save so
select No.
Upon reopening, everything is find until I want to forward or reply
to an
email and I receive the same problems.

Maybe you installed an add-on to Outlook that is ****ing up. Try
starting Outlook in its safe mode ("outlook.exe /safe"). That will
NOT load any add-ons. If the problem goes away, start looking at what
add-ons you have installed into Outlook, like maybe your anti-virus
program.

 

[Stuart C]

Thank you for your reply.
I have renamed as you suggested but still receive the same problem.
Do you have any other suggestions?
It appears other do have this proble, although it is unclaer as to what is
the solution.
Thanks...Stuart

 

[Stuart C]

I have used the following under the Run command: winword.exe /a. At present I
am no longer experiencing the problems.
Thanks...Stuart

 

[Roady [MVP]]

Good to hear you got it solved and posting back your solution.