File corruptions in W 97. Professional Writer.Should I buy word 2

[Don]

Preamble:

I'm a profession writer of fiction and when I lose work I find it very
difficult to recreate it. You lose the intial creative sparks and can't
repeat things as well as the first time through. Sentences are important
and sometimes you can't even remember them. It's therefore very important to
me to have reliable word processing software (and backups), just as it is for
all other professional writers.

I'm not great with computers, but I can make registry changes and do the
normal things. I'd say I have moderate knowledge.

I use Word '97 with Windows Vista and Live OneCare on a newer HP computer. I
also have W 2000 and W 2002. I tried them both, but I prefer W '97.

Okay then ...

Episode 1. A few weeks ago the word file I was working on froze with a
morning's work on it. I tried everything to recover it, but nothing worked.
I got help here (thanks again) and was able to open it in a mutilated .txt
doc form and recover the new work (that was a lot of work in itself, but
better than trying to recreate it.) (Unfortunately, on that particular day,
I'd forgotten to turn on/use my four backup systems.)

Episode 2. Part one. Background. This may or may not be related.... A
few days ago I found that a few of my desktop icons wouldn't open. They would
open in minimize and stay there. This problem went away by itself. Part
2. Today the word file I was working on yesterday opened, but in a frozen
state ("not responding"). I rebooted and it opened (on my second monitor--I
use two of them), but it was again frozen (not responding). I have three USB
backups and I tried opening the document file in all of them, but the results
were the same. Frozen. I did a system restore, but the same thing occured.
Frozen file (containing the most recent version of the whole manuscript). I
reinstalled my Word '97. The installation completed; however, during the
installation, I got the message "Setup has encountered a problem updating
your system registry." (I did three reinstalls with same error message. )
(Note: On one or two occasions during this whole event, the word file opened
in the minimized state on the taskbar and wouldn't come up on the desktop.)
The three word reinstalls didn't help. File was still frozen and lost to me.

Later on, the file stopped opening at all, and I got the error message
"Winword has encountered a problem and must close--which it did.

Other word files opened without a problem.

(This corrupt file situation seems to be exactly the same as the one I
experienced before--described in Episode One, above. [I could not even
comtemplate reviving the whole manuscript--200 pages-- using the .txt method).

I then belatedly remembered that I also use the 12 Ghosts backup system
(saves one copy a minute) and, after some fooling around, I was able to
recover the file (a file that was saved few minutes earlier than the frozen
one). Thus I managed to save my work. Thank heaven.

Now, with all this background (sorry about that) my questions are:

1. Should I abandon the Word '97 program I love, or might there be some way
to find and fix this intermittent file corruption problem? I'm willing to
give it a try, if someone knowledgeable thinks the problem can be tracked
down and has a suggestion I might try.

2. If I can no longer use Word '97 reliably, should I replace it with W
2000 or W 2002
or should I buy word 2007? I only use Word to write ordinary text with. I
don't need a lot of bells and whistles.

-- Your advice and/or suggestions would be very much appreciated.

Thanks in advance, Don

P.S. My computer rep. said it was a virus, but I scan everything that comes
in and I'm very conservative in my Net travels. In any case, I scanned my
computer with OneCare Live and then installed AVG free and scanned with that
too, but with no results.

 

[Graham Mayor]

There is no question that successive versions of Word have become more
reliable, but I see no reason to upgrade when Word 97 will do what you
require - and to address your immediate problems you should see
http://www.gmayor.com/what_to_do_when_word_crashes.htm then
http://word.mvps.org/FAQs/AppErrors/ProblemsStartingWord.htm. However the
problem of losing unsaved work would go away if you forced yourself into the
habit of saving every time you stop for thought. CTRL+S every few minutes
will ensue that you don't lose more than a few minutes work, even if Word
does crash.

Virus? I doubt it. People cry 'Virus' when they don't know what the problem
is. Blame a virus and you don't have to take any responsibility for fixing
the problem. There are viruses out there but the sensible precautions you
are taking should minimize that possibility.

Documents do become corrupt. You may find
http://www.gmayor.com/save_numbered_versions.htm a way around that.

Personally I never did like anything about 12 Ghosts software and it could
be that which is causing the problem - even if it did produce a solution.
You could provide much the same sort of automatic file saving (though
frankly I would find it annoying) with another add-in
http://www.gmayor.com/automatically_backup.htm . You can't beat the two
fingered salute - CTRL:+S

--
<>>< ><<> ><<> <>>< ><<> <>>< <>><<>
Graham Mayor - Word MVP

My web site www.gmayor.com

<>>< ><<> ><<> <>>< ><<> <>>< <>><<>

Preamble:

I'm a profession writer of fiction and when I lose work I find it very
difficult to recreate it. You lose the initial creative sparks and
can't repeat things as well as the first time through. Sentences
are important and sometimes you can't even remember them. It's
therefore very important to me to have reliable word processing
software (and backups), just as it is for all other professional
writers.

I'm not great with computers, but I can make registry changes and do
the normal things. I'd say I have moderate knowledge.

I use Word '97 with Windows Vista and Live OneCare on a newer HP
computer. I also have W 2000 and W 2002. I tried them both, but I
prefer W '97.

Okay then ...

Episode 1. A few weeks ago the word file I was working on froze
with a morning's work on it. I tried everything to recover it, but
nothing worked. I got help here (thanks again) and was able to open
it in a mutilated .txt doc form and recover the new work (that was a
lot of work in itself, but better than trying to recreate it.)
(Unfortunately, on that particular day, I'd forgotten to turn on/use
my four backup systems.)

Episode 2. Part one. Background. This may or may not be
related.... A
few days ago I found that a few of my desktop icons wouldn't open.
They would open in minimize and stay there. This problem went away
by itself. Part
2. Today the word file I was working on yesterday opened, but in a
frozen state ("not responding"). I rebooted and it opened (on my
second monitor--I use two of them), but it was again frozen (not
responding). I have three USB backups and I tried opening the
document file in all of them, but the results were the same. Frozen.
I did a system restore, but the same thing occured. Frozen file
(containing the most recent version of the whole manuscript). I
reinstalled my Word '97. The installation completed; however, during
the installation, I got the message "Setup has encountered a problem
updating your system registry." (I did three reinstalls with same
error message. ) (Note: On one or two occasions during this whole
event, the word file opened in the minimized state on the taskbar and
wouldn't come up on the desktop.) The three word reinstalls didn't
help. File was still frozen and lost to me.

Later on, the file stopped opening at all, and I got the error message
"Winword has encountered a problem and must close--which it did.

Other word files opened without a problem.

(This corrupt file situation seems to be exactly the same as the one I
experienced before--described in Episode One, above. [I could not even
comtemplate reviving the whole manuscript--200 pages-- using the .txt
method).

I then belatedly remembered that I also use the 12 Ghosts backup
system (saves one copy a minute) and, after some fooling around, I
was able to recover the file (a file that was saved few minutes
earlier than the frozen one). Thus I managed to save my work. Thank
heaven.

Now, with all this background (sorry about that) my questions are:

1. Should I abandon the Word '97 program I love, or might there be
some way to find and fix this intermittent file corruption problem?
I'm willing to give it a try, if someone knowledgeable thinks the
problem can be tracked down and has a suggestion I might try.

2. If I can no longer use Word '97 reliably, should I replace it
with W 2000 or W 2002
or should I buy word 2007? I only use Word to write ordinary text
with. I don't need a lot of bells and whistles.

-- Your advice and/or suggestions would be very much appreciated.

Thanks in advance, Don

P.S. My computer rep. said it was a virus, but I scan everything
that comes in and I'm very conservative in my Net travels. In any
case, I scanned my computer with OneCare Live and then installed AVG
free and scanned with that too, but with no results.

 

[Don]

Hi Graham.

You've provided a great answer. I'll take your advice and follow your
suggestions. I've made a folder called "When Word Crashes", in which I put
a copy of your post, as well as copies of the links you provided so I'll be
better able to handle the problem, if it arises again. I've also make link
to your interesting home page.

Concerning 12 ghosts backup, I had the old version for years, though I was
not too happy with it. The new version (which I've just bought) is somewhat
better, although I do have some uncertainity about the strange unknown files
SomE of the copies are in (which I couldn't open). However, I need the
AutomatiC "copy a minute" feature. When I'm working creatively I'm in
another world, so to speak, and I forget about everything else.

I visited your home page and noticed all the work you've done as an MVP
and otherwise, including your very cogent and comprehensive article on what
to do "When Word Crashes". I will make good use of it.

I see you are "retired", but that you have never stopped working. In any
case, I sincerely thank you for all the work you do to provide help to the
great unwashed (i.e. people like me).

All the best, Don Lemna. Medicine Hat, Alberta.
--

There is no question that successive versions of Word have become more
reliable, but I see no reason to upgrade when Word 97 will do what you
require - and to address your immediate problems you should see
http://www.gmayor.com/what_to_do_when_word_crashes.htm then
http://word.mvps.org/FAQs/AppErrors/ProblemsStartingWord.htm. However the
problem of losing unsaved work would go away if you forced yourself into the
habit of saving every time you stop for thought. CTRL+S every few minutes
will ensue that you don't lose more than a few minutes work, even if Word
does crash.

Virus? I doubt it. People cry 'Virus' when they don't know what the problem
is. Blame a virus and you don't have to take any responsibility for fixing
the problem. There are viruses out there but the sensible precautions you
are taking should minimize that possibility.

Documents do become corrupt. You may find
http://www.gmayor.com/save_numbered_versions.htm a way around that.

Personally I never did like anything about 12 Ghosts software and it could
be that which is causing the problem - even if it did produce a solution.
You could provide much the same sort of automatic file saving (though
frankly I would find it annoying) with another add-in
http://www.gmayor.com/automatically_backup.htm . You can't beat the two
fingered salute - CTRL:+S

--
<>>< ><<> ><<> <>>< ><<> <>>< <>><<>
Graham Mayor - Word MVP

My web site www.gmayor.com

<>>< ><<> ><<> <>>< ><<> <>>< <>><<>

Preamble:

I'm a profession writer of fiction and when I lose work I find it very
difficult to recreate it. You lose the initial creative sparks and
can't repeat things as well as the first time through. Sentences
are important and sometimes you can't even remember them. It's
therefore very important to me to have reliable word processing
software (and backups), just as it is for all other professional
writers.

I'm not great with computers, but I can make registry changes and do
the normal things. I'd say I have moderate knowledge.

I use Word '97 with Windows Vista and Live OneCare on a newer HP
computer. I also have W 2000 and W 2002. I tried them both, but I
prefer W '97.

Okay then ...

Episode 1. A few weeks ago the word file I was working on froze
with a morning's work on it. I tried everything to recover it, but
nothing worked. I got help here (thanks again) and was able to open
it in a mutilated .txt doc form and recover the new work (that was a
lot of work in itself, but better than trying to recreate it.)
(Unfortunately, on that particular day, I'd forgotten to turn on/use
my four backup systems.)

Episode 2. Part one. Background. This may or may not be
related.... A
few days ago I found that a few of my desktop icons wouldn't open.
They would open in minimize and stay there. This problem went away
by itself. Part
2. Today the word file I was working on yesterday opened, but in a
frozen state ("not responding"). I rebooted and it opened (on my
second monitor--I use two of them), but it was again frozen (not
responding). I have three USB backups and I tried opening the
document file in all of them, but the results were the same. Frozen.
I did a system restore, but the same thing occured. Frozen file
(containing the most recent version of the whole manuscript). I
reinstalled my Word '97. The installation completed; however, during
the installation, I got the message "Setup has encountered a problem
updating your system registry." (I did three reinstalls with same
error message. ) (Note: On one or two occasions during this whole
event, the word file opened in the minimized state on the taskbar and
wouldn't come up on the desktop.) The three word reinstalls didn't
help. File was still frozen and lost to me.

Later on, the file stopped opening at all, and I got the error message
"Winword has encountered a problem and must close--which it did.

Other word files opened without a problem.

(This corrupt file situation seems to be exactly the same as the one I
experienced before--described in Episode One, above. [I could not even
comtemplate reviving the whole manuscript--200 pages-- using the .txt
method).

I then belatedly remembered that I also use the 12 Ghosts backup
system (saves one copy a minute) and, after some fooling around, I
was able to recover the file (a file that was saved few minutes
earlier than the frozen one). Thus I managed to save my work. Thank
heaven.

Now, with all this background (sorry about that) my questions are:

1. Should I abandon the Word '97 program I love, or might there be
some way to find and fix this intermittent file corruption problem?
I'm willing to give it a try, if someone knowledgeable thinks the
problem can be tracked down and has a suggestion I might try.

2. If I can no longer use Word '97 reliably, should I replace it
with W 2000 or W 2002
or should I buy word 2007? I only use Word to write ordinary text
with. I don't need a lot of bells and whistles.

-- Your advice and/or suggestions would be very much appreciated.

Thanks in advance, Don

P.S. My computer rep. said it was a virus, but I scan everything
that comes in and I'm very conservative in my Net travels. In any
case, I scanned my computer with OneCare Live and then installed AVG
free and scanned with that too, but with no results.

 

[Graham Mayor]

However, I need the AutomatiC "copy a minute"
feature. When I'm working creatively I'm in another world, so to
speak, and I forget about everything else.

The link I posted earlier http://www.gmayor.com/automatically_backup.htm
has a link to the Savereminder add-in which will do this. Saving every
minute I would find disruptive.

--
<>>< ><<> ><<> <>>< ><<> <>>< <>><<>
Graham Mayor - Word MVP

My web site www.gmayor.com

<>>< ><<> ><<> <>>< ><<> <>>< <>><<>

 

[Don]

Hi Again:

The 12 Ghosts backup automatically saves a copy a minute to an external
hard drive and I don't even know it's happening. In any case, at the end of
the day I have a complete minute by minute record of my work. At the end of
each week, I delete everything but the last day's copies. It works, although
on this occasion I did have trouble finding the right file, and some of the
files I tried were strange types and wouldn't open. I'll be talking to them
about that.

I also use the word's autorecover feature ("always create backup copy"),
in the word options/save, as recommended in your links. But, in regard to
the 12 Ghosts, I guess the proof of the pudding is in the eating: in the end
it finally gave me a copy of my work from one minute before the bad/frozen
copy.

Again, I appreciate your help and advice.

Cheers, Don.

 

[Don]

Hello again Graham.

One further thing. The 12 Ghosts backup works by copying (and saving in an
external separate hard drive) the files from my autorecover save folder. (I
set the autorecover save at 1 per minute). In my previous post I mentioned
the "strange file" I couldn't open. This strange file has no file type
dentification. I know it's supposed to be .asd , but the "file box" is blank
and it's just labeled "file". This is what caused my problem opening files
in the 12 ghost backup. I'm sending this note to them, but since you're a
word expert, I wondered if you've run across this anomaly and might know
what's going on, and how I might go about making sure the autorecover files
are .asd types.

 

[Graham Mayor]

I regret I don't know anything about the internal workings of 12Ghosts and
how it relates to the autosave function.
FWIW I use a commercial replacement for the Windows Recycle Bin called
Undelete 2009 Professional - http://www.diskeeper.com/products/products.aspx
which stores all deleted files - including each copy of the asd file as it
is re-saved. That works transparently to the user.

--
<>>< ><<> ><<> <>>< ><<> <>>< <>><<>
Graham Mayor - Word MVP

My web site www.gmayor.com

<>>< ><<> ><<> <>>< ><<> <>>< <>><<>

 

[Don]

I looked at Undelete 2009 and I think it might be better than 12 ghosts for
my purpose. But first I have to find out why my recover files are not ".asd"
and don't even have a file extension and are simply call "file". I've asked
the 12 Ghosts people to look into this strange situation, since nothing will
open these files in a useful way. In any case, I want to thank you again
for all your help.

Best wishes, Don.