double-clicking Word 2003 files

[Guest]

I just installed Office 2007, which automatically deleted the
matching Office 2003 applications (Word, Excel, etc.)

Now every time I double-click an existing file (Word 2003),
instead of opening it in Word 2007 as I would expect, it tries
to RE-INSTALL WORD 2003! This happpens with Excel also.

How can I fix this?

My workaround is to open Word or Excel first and then
hunt down the file from its Open menu boxes, but that
is very inconvenient compared to double-clicking.

 

[CyberTaz]

In a Windows Explorer window navigate to any existing Word document,
right-click it & choose Open With, then click Choose Program. Select Word
2007 & make sure to tick the box for "Always use...", click OK & that should
do it.

 

[Guest]

CyberTaz - that doesn't work (note that I'm on Windows XP).

The Choose Program box won't let me select "Word 2007",
instead it offers the generic name "Microsoft Office Word".
And when I select that, it tries to re-install Word 2003.
Even if I use the Browse button in that window to find and
select the Word 2007 executable (....\Office12\WINWORD.EXE)
it still does the same thing, settilng on the generic name and
immediately trying to load Word 2003.
Dojibear.

 

[Summer]

This link might help. Although I think it refers to the default version of
Word that opens. But check it out - it might help you.

That behaviour can be fixed though:
http://pschmid.net/blog/2007/04/20/110

Patrick Schmid [OneNote MVP]

 

[Guest]

Summer -

Thanks. The method in the link didn't work,
but it told me what the problem is - I had a
"double" installation, where both Office 2007
and Office 2003 were partly installed. I had
incorrectly thought the 2007 install removed
the other.

So I uninstalled BOTH versions of Office completely and
then installed Office 2007 all over again, and it cleared
up the problem.