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General discussion

File Format Converters error with Office 2003

Feb 22, 2008 12:22AM PST

I'm trying to open a Word 2007 .docx file with Word 2003. I've downloaded the File Format Converters update from MS, but every time I try and launch the .exe file, it gives me the "Windows cannot access the specified device, path, or file. You may not have the appropriate permissions to access the item" box. I am the admin on XP, there are no other users, etc., so I'm not sure why I'm getting this message. XP is fully updated, and I've re-downloaded the file a few times and restarted my computer. Help!

Discussion is locked

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Re: blocked file
Feb 22, 2008 12:39AM PST

Congrats with your security settings. Very nicely done. Downloaded exe's can be dangerous (well, this one isn't if you downloaded it directly from Microsoft, but only YOU know that and the system doesn't).

Simply unblock it, as shown in http://www.adminscripteditor.com/editor/Help/WebHelp/Troubleshooting/Error__Windows_cannot_access_the_specified_device,_path_or_file..htm
and it will run.

I've never had this with downloaded exe's myself. But at my work I've experienced blocked MS Access files. It must be some policy, but I don't know the details. But I do know how to unblock and give myself access to the file, and that's what matters.

Hope this helps.


Kees

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It would have helped, but . . .
Feb 22, 2008 12:54AM PST

. . . the Properties box doesn't have the Unblock option.

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Re: blocked file
Feb 22, 2008 4:18AM PST

The box only shows is the file is blocked. So it's a strange situation.

What I would try: find another PC (work, friends, family) to download it, see if it runs there (just run, cancel setup if you want to install it), then copy it to a USB-stick and run from there on your own PC. Rather clumsy, but it might work.

Kees

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Worked on my laptop
Feb 22, 2008 6:21AM PST

Ok, so I just moved it over to my laptop and it opened right away. So now I know that there must be some setting that isn't allowing me to open this type of file on my desktop, but I don't remember ever having this issue before.

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Can you run other downloaded exe-files?
Feb 22, 2008 11:23PM PST

1. If you download them on your desktop?
2. If you download them on your laptop, copy to a USB-stick and on the desktop run from there?

It doesn't seem to be an MS Office problem.

Kees

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Got it
Feb 23, 2008 1:22AM PST

Instead of opening it off of a USB drive, I ran it from my laptop over the network and it worked.

I agree it's not an Office problem. I posted the same question over in the XP forums, but have yet to receive a reply. To my knowledge this is the first and only time I've had trouble opening a .exe file on this computer. Very strange.

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(NT) Glad you solved it. Good job.
Feb 23, 2008 4:09AM PST
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Thanks for your help.
Feb 23, 2008 6:13AM PST

And for posting on the other thread. I'm still curious though why it won't open on the desktop, so I'll have to keep digging on that one.