Cannot open Word files with Word 2010

Hello,

I have Office 2010 installed on my computer and I'm unable to open any doc file created with previous version. Word is always telling me the document is corrupted. However Wordpad can open it or Word 2007 on another computer can.
Only document créated with the installed Word 2010 can be opened.
I tried to repair the installation but nothing changed.
Before I tried an uninsallation/installation process, do you have any idea why Word cannot open old document, and what to do?
Thank for any help.

 

August 8th, 2010 9:44pm

Hi,

 For this issue, check if the compatibility settings are checked in Word 2010:

===========

1.       Click File > Options > Trust Center, click the Trust Center settings button.

2.       Click File Block Settings. Then make sure the checkboxes for the following items are not checked:

·         Word 2007 and later Documents and Templates

·         Word 2007 and later Binary Documents and Templates

·         Word 2003 Binary Documents and Templates

·         Word 2003 and Plain XML Documents

3.       Click OK to save the settings.

Regards,

Harry

  • Marked as answer by Sally Tang Friday, August 13, 2010 8:54 AM
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August 9th, 2010 5:32am

Hi,

Thanks for your answer, however these options are not checked. Only these one are checked:

- Word 2 and later Binary Documents and Templates
- Word 6.0 Binary Documents and Templates
- Word 95 Binary Documents and Templates

However, I just discovered that I cannot open only documents created this year (2010). All documents I have found that was created in 2009 and older can be opened, whatever the version of Word it was created with.

That's really strange.
Any idea? I'm really suprised by that.

August 13th, 2010 5:33pm

I have the exact same problem, ie. I cannot open any of my older word files nor any word file attachement in Outlook. I have to re-install Word XP on the same computer to open the old word files. I would appreciate someone find a fix or answer for this problem.

Thanks.

Christopher

  • Proposed as answer by C Wallingford Wednesday, November 23, 2011 6:55 AM
  • Unproposed as answer by C Wallingford Wednesday, November 23, 2011 7:02 AM
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September 3rd, 2011 5:25am

I have a similar problem.  Word 2010 will not open older word files.  If I download an older word file, it saves as a works file.  Frustrating. 

I figured out that I can open word 2010 and then go to file and open the works document and it opens in word 2010.  Then I have to save it as word 97-03.  Then I have to delete the works file.  Pretty weak solution. I just want it to work correctly.


November 23rd, 2011 6:58am

Thanks.  This answered and solved my problem.  I wonder why all the directions from Microsoft (which I tried every which way) did not tell me to remove the check marks.  Thank you so much.
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August 10th, 2012 9:07pm

It doesn't get any more pathetic than that does it?  Word can't open files that were created in previous versions of Word.  That's almost as sad as Windows 8 not being able to play Windows Media Audio (WMA) files. 

The ultimate solution is to stop using Microsoft Word and to install LibreOffice instead.  It's open source software that doesn't cost anything and you can download it at LibreOffice.org and you can also download user's guides without charge.  Also, LibreOffice can open any file that was generated by a Microsoft or Mac WordPerfect program.  I can even open old .wks (Microsoft Works) files with LibreOffice - you can't open those with any version of Word that I'm aware of. 

December 27th, 2012 11:02pm

Please let me know too. I hate this 2010 office.. So sick...
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July 5th, 2015 1:40am

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