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General discussion

'File Not Found' Error when opening files in Word 2007

Feb 28, 2008 10:42PM PST

Hi,

Word 2007 used to work perfectly on my computer up to some time ago. Now, whenever I double click a word document in Windows explorer to open it, I get a 'File Not Found' Error, telling me to make sure that the supplied name and directory is correct. Once Word 2007 is open however, all documents open fine, even if they are double clicked in windows explorer. Apart from that, preview pane in Windows Explorer does not work with word document files, however work fine with all other formats.

I'm running Windows Vista Ultimate and Office 2007 with ALL available
updates installed.

Anyone knows what's going on?

Thanks

Discussion is locked

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(NT) Start with a repair install of Office from the CD.
Feb 28, 2008 10:47PM PST
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nothing changed :(
Mar 4, 2008 2:55AM PST

Hey thanks for replying..I repaired my office installation bu to no avail. It's still not letting me open my files by clicking on them.

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Then it's time to ...
Mar 4, 2008 3:42AM PST

(a) Check the file associations for all offending file types (extensions). Compare with a fresh correctly working install and find the differences. It helps to have another PC with Vista and Office 2007.

Kees

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Link.
Mar 4, 2008 3:43AM PST
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hey thanks fot the links..but :/
Mar 4, 2008 3:33PM PST

Thanks for the links, I tried it out and I reselected Microsoft Word as the default program for .docx and .doc but I'm still given the same error. I tried googling it but it seems that not many people experienced such a problem. :S

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Get what you paid for.
Mar 4, 2008 9:18PM PST

"Windows Vista Ultimate and Office 2007"

That's close to a grand in software so make the call. Do not let them charge for this one since it's DOA.

Bob

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Experiencing the same problem...
Mar 5, 2008 4:18PM PST

I experience the same problem when double clicking a Word or, actually, any Office document for that matter. I get an error saying file not found. But once the Office product is running and I double-click then the file opens no problem. I suspect that there is something weird going on with a path name that is being passed before the Office app is open. Anyone have a clue on how to fix this?

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Do you have windows vista too?
Mar 5, 2008 7:54PM PST

My problem is with word only...powerpoint and access and excel open their respective files properly.

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heya problem solved i think
Mar 18, 2008 8:04PM PDT

hey..i installed vista sp1 yesterday and now my word docs are opening ok..perhaps it had something to do with services.msc editing? I had turned off a few services to supposedly increase my computers speed but i think it ruined my office instead..oh well at least now it's ok Happy

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'File Not Found' Error when opening files in Word 2007
Jul 25, 2008 2:20AM PDT

I am still constantly getting this error, but it is somewhat intermittent for me, although it happens more than not lately. Usually of the first or second try though only. I happen in Excel as well. I have Vista SP1, so that certainly hasn't fixed me. Does anyone have any other ideas. I also get the error opening attachments from email. Thanks

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"I also get the error opening attachments from email."
Jul 25, 2008 2:52AM PDT

I don't have the Microsoft article handy but in their workaround they ask the user to save the attachment and open the saved file.

If you feel you are being shortchanged by the workaround please call MS and tell them.

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NONE OF MY WORD FILES OPEN
Aug 11, 2008 11:03AM PDT

i have read this entire string of emails and am glad i'm not the only one.

i just bought this laptop from a friend of mine, he had refurbed it, cleared it off and installed everything fresh. when we first got it we could open and view files no problem. probably about a month ago we started getting this error. at first i assumed it was just b/c i was trying to open files i had created in the older version of word from my work laptop. but, then, i created a couple files on this new laptop on the word 2007 version and am getting the same error with those as well!!

i have xp though, so....does ANYONE have an answer for this yet?

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opening word files from webmail based program
Aug 15, 2008 4:12AM PDT

I have windows XP, but Word 07 and had this problem. Not that this is a fix but can save a little aggravation. Right click and open in new window and it will open.

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Word 2007 opening problem
Sep 3, 2008 4:24AM PDT

I have the same problem, maybe it is worse. I can't even open the file I just saved with word 2007. But it is no problem to open with Word 2003. what a pity.

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Try this
Sep 3, 2008 5:32AM PDT

Try saving that file from inside Word 2003 as a different file name.

Then see if you can open it in Word 2007.

If not, what happens. What error messages?

Mark

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Re: can't open
Sep 3, 2008 5:35AM PDT

- How do you (try to) open the file in Word 2007?
- How do you open the file in Word 2003?

With File>Open and browse to it?
With File and then choosing one of 4 (to 9?) last opened files?
From your list of recent documents?
By double clicking in My Computer or Windows Explorer?

Kees

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Double clicking from Windows Explorer and attachments
Sep 4, 2008 6:09AM PDT

Mine happens intermittently both from double clicking the file from Windows Explorer as well as simply opening an attachment. It doesn't matter if this is an old file from Office XP or a new file from Office 2007.

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Check the file association for ...
Sep 4, 2008 6:37PM PDT

the .doc extension. It should point to the version of Word you want to use to open .doc files.

The procedure for Vista is slightly different from XP. So I can't tell the details here.

Kees

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The solution I found is:
Mar 24, 2009 3:35AM PDT

In Word 2007, I received the dreaded "file not found" when opening an existing uncorrupted Word file from My Documents. Once Word was opened up at a blank screen the document would load if clicked upon a second time.
Here's how I solved the "file not found" problem.

Set the My Documents folder as a trusted folder.
1. Open up Word 2007
2. Click on the round "Office button" in the upper left corner
3. Click on the Word Options button
4. Click on Trust Center in the left pane
5. Click on Trust Center settings button in the right pane
6. Click on Trusted Locations in the left pane
7. Click on Add new location.. button in the right pane
8. Click on the Browse button, navigate to the My Documents folder (or other desired folder) and choose it
9. Ensure the Path text box entry reflects the desired folder.
10. Click the box "Subfolders of this location are also trusted (if desired)
11. Click OK
12. Click OK to close the Trust Center
12. Click OK to close Word Options
13. Close Word
14. Now try opening a Word document outside of Word.

I also had a Word .pdf Add-In that was stalled until I accepted the Word macro inclusion message (in yellow), which added the Add-In to the Trust Center.

Hope this helps someone.

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Office & productivity software: 'File Not Found' Error
May 21, 2009 4:14AM PDT

I was having the same problem (only in Word 2007) for the longest time until I disabled the User Account Control under User Accounts in the Control Panel (Vista). Now I double-click and my documents open the way they are suppose to. Hope this helps.

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MS Office Diagnostics did it for me
Feb 15, 2011 5:09AM PST

Try Word Options/Resources/run MS Office Diagnostics, it fixed the problem for me.