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General discussion

Word 2010 opens all my programs

Jun 26, 2010 7:06AM PDT

Last Saturday I downloaded Office 2010 and upgraded from Office Home & Student 2007. Everything seemed to work okay the rest of the day. On Sunday, I booted up and every program in my startup list opened in a Word 2010 window. Every desktop icon I clicked on also opened a Word 2010 window. I couldn't connect to the internet or run any programs. Every program opened with Word 2010. It appears that somehow Word 2010 took control over all my file associations.

I then logged on the internet with another PC and looked for solutions. In my quest to solve the problem, I manged to crash the PC and had to dig out a month old cloned back-up in order to get my PC active again. The clone still has Office 2000 on it, since it was made before I loaded Office 2007 and upgrade to Office 2010.

At this time, I am very reluctant to install the Office 2010 until I can get some help in figuring out what I need to do to avoid the takeover of my Desktop and programs by Office 2010.

As information, no other programs were installed to my PC on Saturday except for the Office 2010. I don't know if it matters, but I did not uninstall either of the previous Office programs.

I am running Windows XP Version 5.1 (Build 2600.xpsp3_gdr.10021601515: Service Pack 3) on an Emachine PC.



Thanks for all help and solutions.

Discussion is locked

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The possible solutions:
Jun 26, 2010 7:23AM PDT

1. System restore to Friday.
2. Repair install of Windows
3. Clean install of Windows.

I've never seen this happen with an official Microsoft supplied version. Did you already complain with them and asked your money back?

Kees

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The possible solutions:
Jun 26, 2010 7:42AM PDT

Too late. As I mentioned I had to go back to a backup - pre-office 2010.

I just want to avoid it happening again when I reload Office 2010.

I have reported it on one of the Microsoft forums, but have not received a solution.

Ron

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If you are willing to try again?
Jun 26, 2010 8:32PM PDT

I would uninstall all previous versions of Office, reboot the computer. Create a System Restore point, then try to install this new Office 10 again.

Just to clarify, this is not an upgrade of Office to Office 10, but a full installation? If it is an upgrade, then what I suggest may not be possible, but as far as I know, Microsoft does not upgrade Office products like that.

Mark

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Word 2010 opens all my programs
Jul 1, 2010 7:12AM PDT

I decided to try and install the Office 2010 on another XP PC on which I had installed Office 2007. It gave me the option to Upgrade or Customize. I chose Customize this time. I was then given the option to replace the Office 2007 or run both 2007 and 2010. Out of curiosity, I took the option to run both. The install completed and so far, I have had no problem. No take over of my file associations.

I next loaded it on my Wondows 7 laptop and did exactly as I did with the XP PC. I had the same success with the laptop as I did above.

I then went back to my original PC. Since I was using my cloned backup, I decided not to install Office 2007. During the install, I was given the same option to Upgrade or Customize. I again chose Customize. This time, since I did not have Office 2007 installed, I was given to option to run both. Office 2010 installed with no problem. So far no problem with hijacked file associations.

The differences this time are: I didn't install Office 2007 and I instead of choosing Upgrade (as I did the first time), I chose Customize. Whether that made a difference or not, I don't know. All I know is that it apparently is working correctly now.

I guess we can consider this item closed.

Thanks for your comments and suggestions.

Ron

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Good work
Jul 1, 2010 7:47PM PDT

and thanks for reporting back.

I can't say what caused this error in the first place, but it's good you got it working.

Mark

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Word opens all my programs
Jul 10, 2011 10:02AM PDT

Most of the suggestions in here would not have worked.
I am in the middle of the same problem. I installed Office 2010 on Windows XP, and Word went from opening all Office programs to opening almost everything. At this point, I am looking at repair Windows, unless I find some other knowledge on it. Never seen a Microsoft program behave so much like a virus.