Files open as Garbage

[Brenda from Michigan]

User was recently converted to Word 2002 SP3 which is what I use. She has
some previous documents that were done in either Word 97 or Word 2000. When
she or I attempt to open them in Word 2002, they look like what you might see
if you opened with 'recover text from any file'. If you have 'confirm
conversion at open' checked in Options, they show as "Convert file from
'encoded' " and the result is the same as if you did a 'Recover text from any
file.'

I've tried inserting them as a picture, opening with WordPerfect and
removing the .doc. Does anyone have any idea what might be going on with
these Word files? I'm stumped!

 

[Kathy Kensche]

you probably already tried opening them as rich text or txt? It's the only
thing I can think of that may allow you recovering any text values in there?

 

[Brenda from Michigan]

We've tried RTF, TXT, inserting as a graphic, WordPerfect, Conversions Plus!,
Note Pad, Word Pad, Recover Text from any File, Excel, PowerPoint, removing
the .doc file extension. This is not just a couple of files. It is hundreds
of files.

My only thought is they may be Word 95 files or earlier and they do not
convert upwards. I really don't know. Realistically they are most likely
Word 97 files, so I don't see why they shouldn't be upwards compatible. Can
anyone offer any other ideas?