We recently upgraded to Office 2013 (running Windows 7 Pro), and now when I try to open a word document by double-clicking (either from windows explorer or an attachment in outlook), it frequently opens a blank box but not the file.  I have to close the box and retry by right-clicking and then open, but often have to try several times.  Any help would be greatly appreciated!

Hi Rosa,

Please try to repair your Office as a quick fix.

If that doesn't help, try the following methods:

Excel:

Delete or rename the "ddeexec" key under:

HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\Excel.Sheet.12\shell\Open\

And delete or rename the "command" string under:

HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\Excel.Sheet.12\shell\Open\command\

Word:

Delete or rename the "ddeexec" key under:

HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\Word.Document.12\shell\Open

And delete or rename the "command" string under:

HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\Word.Document.12\shell\Open\command

Hi Rosa

Your problem sounds similar to one I had where neither Excel no Word would open a document. They would start and go to the document selection screen, but when I would pick a document I would get an error message telling me that the program had stopped working.  I searched the internet for a solution and on the Microsoft Community site I came across a mention of a problem caused by ABBYY Finereader  and as it happens this program was installed as part of my printers software.  I uninstalled the program and my problems with Office have disappeared.  It worked for me, it may work for you.

Quick Fix solved the problem for me. Control Panel ->  Programs and Features -> Microsoft Office 365... (for me) and then click Change in the bar at the top. That gets you to the Repair dialog box.

• Proposed as answer by theGeorgeL 17 hours 17 minutes ago

Quick Fix solved the problem for me. Control Panel ->  Programs and Features -> Microsoft Office 365... (for me) and then click Change in the bar at the top. That gets you to the Repair dialog box.

• Proposed as answer by theGeorgeL Sunday, March 15, 2015 2:07 PM

Thanks opwalt! This worked for me.

thanks for posting the fix!

• Edited by Jim handiman services computer guy Friday, April 11, 2014 8:44 PM

Thanks opwalt! This worked for me.

thanks for posting the fix!

• Edited by Jim handiman services computer guy Friday, April 11, 2014 8:44 PM

This worked for me too!! Thanks all, this was driving me crazy and this is the only fix I could find online that actually did anything. I have Windows 8.1 and Office 365 subscription so it works for that combo.

ED

Hi,

I had exactly the same problem with the same programs. After uninstalling ABBYY Finereader everything worked perfectly. Thank you so much for the fix.

Much appreciated!

Thank you SO much for this answer! It worked! I have had 2013 version for about a month and a half now and it drives me absolutely CRAZY that it would do this!!

good answer, but some folks don't know where repair installation is, so may be good to mention where it is.

Control Panel > Programs and Features > Office 365 > Change/Repair

Worked well for me as well. using Windows 7 Pro and Office 365 Pro

as for the 'some people can't find the control panel....well if 

"Quick Fix solved the problem for me. Control Panel ->  Programs and Features -> Microsoft Office 365... (for me) and then click Change in the bar at the top. That gets you to the Repair dialog box."

Didn't make it obvious you should probably not be trying tro sort this out on your own!