Opening Documents Has Become Inefficient

[Mark2006]

I am using Word XP with Vista Business 32 bit on a dell lat. d630 laptop.

O.K., I have upgraded to Vista Business from XP Home. It has taken quite
some time to get all the drivers etc. However, it is done and I am
reasonably happy. One problem, opening documents in word has become
inefficient. I used to be able to press ctrl + O and then type the name of
the document (assuming I was in the right folder) and then press enter once
or twice and it would open. Now, I press ctrl + O, type the name, press
enter, it is then listed, then I have to mouse up to the document in the list
and double click. I am sure there is a setting that needs to be changed.
Any ideas?

Thanks!

 

[Mark2006]

No, that does not work. The name will appear there but it will not open from
the box, it will only open if I go up to the list and double click it or go
up to the list and highlight and then press. Nothing from the box
works....odd isn't it?

 

[Mark2006]

Hi Cindy,
Your suggestions are very much appreciated. Opening files works perfectly
while in safe mode. So, I repaired the install but the problem persists.
Any more suggestions?
Thanks,
Mark

 

[Graham Mayor]

If opening files works in safe mode then the probability is that there is
some issue with your user settings - probably the normal template - see
http://word.mvps.org/FAQs/AppErrors/ProblemsStartingWord.htm.

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Graham Mayor - Word MVP

My web site www.gmayor.com

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[Mark2006]

I have tried what was suggested, again, no improvement. Tried safe mode
again, works perfectly. Can there be something in the registry? What would
happen if I used word in safe mode to work with documents? Can that be done?

 

[Mark2006]

One other thought, I signed on to my computer in another account, the word
worked fine. So, it is specific to my account and the settings I have.

 

[Graham Mayor]

The principal of safe mode is that it works without your user settings - the
normal template, the data key in the registry, addins etc. It is clear from
your comments that one of the settings from your profile is problematic - my
guess would have been the normal template. All the problem settings are
covered in the link I posted earlier.

Do you have virus checking that has an office plug-in, such as Norton or
AVG? Checking of Word/Office documents can usually be deselected in the AV
program e.g. in Norton AV by turning off its Office Plug-in.

With some versions of the Norton product it may be necessary to unregister
the calling DLL by running the following command line from Windows > Start >
Run

regsvr32 /u "c:\program files\norton antivirus\officeav.dll"
or
regsvr32 /u "c:\program files\norton systemworks\norton
antivirus\officeav.dll"

Other AV apps eg the popular free ediition of Grisoft's AVG antivirus
software, require similar treatment.
In this instance:

regsvr32 /u "C:\Program Files\AVG\AVG8\avgoff2k.dll"

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

My web site www.gmayor.com

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

 

[Mark2006]

Hi Everyone,
I found a solution!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
The solution is to run "regedit" and then delete all the entries related to
Microsoft Word (I left the other office programs alone.) When I clicked on
Word later to open it, it acted like it was installing it and recreated all
the registry entries fresh. Now "Open" works like it does for everyone else.
I know this might not be the most sophisticated solution, but it sure
worked. Thank you all.