docx converter

Hi, I am unable to open up .docx format word filies on my old word 2003
system. What are my options beside having to install 1. the service pack 3
(EVERYTIME I install one of MS service packs it messes up my system and i
spend hours trying to get everything to work properly again so i am very
reluctant in doing so) and then 2. installing the monster program microsoft
coverter?

All I want is some low-tech conversion option where I dont need to spend
hours downloading monster programs that will slow my computer down and mess
up all my settings etc. Any alternatives would be greatly appreciated....

tx.
--
mhd

mhd wrote:
> Hi, I am unable to open up .docx format word filies on my old word 2003
> system. What are my options beside having to install 1. the service pack 3
> (EVERYTIME I install one of MS service packs it messes up my system and i
> spend hours trying to get everything to work properly again so i am very
> reluctant in doing so) and then 2. installing the monster program microsoft
> coverter?
>
> All I want is some low-tech conversion option where I dont need to spend
> hours downloading monster programs that will slow my computer down and mess
> up all my settings etc. Any alternatives would be greatly appreciated....
>
> tx.

http://www.openoffice.org/ It's free and version 3.0 reads Microsoft's
new formats.

Alias

mhd wrote:
> Hi, I am unable to open up .docx format word filies on my old word
> 2003 system. What are my options beside having to install 1. the
> service pack 3 (EVERYTIME I install one of MS service packs it
> messes up my system and i spend hours trying to get everything to
> work properly again so i am very reluctant in doing so) and then 2.
> installing the monster program microsoft coverter?
>
> All I want is some low-tech conversion option where I dont need to
> spend hours downloading monster programs that will slow my computer
> down and mess up all my settings etc. Any alternatives would be
> greatly appreciated....

You seem to have some misunderstanding of requirements and options.

You don't need Windows XP Service Pack 3 in order to install the Office
Compatibility Pack:
http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/d...3-c6bb74cd1466
27.5 MB download (just over an hour on dial-up.)

You do not need Windows XP Service Pack 3 in order to install the Word
viewer:
http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/d...c-f4f827f20cac
24.5 MB download (about an hour on dial-up.)
(Although you do need the Microsoft Office Compatibility Pack for Word,
Excel, and PowerPoint 2007 File Formats from above to do what it is you want
to do...)

If you are having trouble installing patches - then something is natively
wrong with your computer and should likely be fixed.

- Download and install the latest hardware drivers directly from the
individual hardware manufacturer's support web pages (not
Microsoft - unless Microsoft happens to make a piece of hardware
you own - I suggest *not* getting hardware drivers offered by them)
for each piece of hardware you have in your computer.

- Download, install, run, update and perform a full scan (separately) with
the
following two applications (freeware versions are the ones to use for this):

SuperAntiSpyware
http://www.superantispyware.com/

MalwareBytes
http://www.malwarebytes.com/

After performing a full scan with one and then the other and removing
whatever they both find completely, you may uninstall these products,
if you wish.


Advice specific to Service Pack 3 for Windows XP:

With proper preparation - you are unlikely to have problems - and if you
have been performing proper maintenance all along - even if you do - you are
only out a short period of time (restoring from the backup/drive image you
made wisely before diving in...)

A place to get FREE support for SP3 installation issues *from Microsoft*...
http://support.microsoft.com/oas/def...3&gprid=522131

WinXP SP3 - Read all prerequisites for a successful installation
http://msmvps.com/blogs/harrywaldron...tallation.aspx

Steps to take before you install Windows XP Service Pack 3
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/950717

Suggestions:

1) Download the full SP3 installation file and/or burn the ISO download to
CD.
2) Ensure (as well as plausible) you have no spyware/malware by doing a full
scan with SuperAntiSpyware and MalwareBytes.
3) CHKDSK
4) Defragment
5) Ensure your hardware drivers are up to date (from the hardware
manufacturer's respective web pages.)
6) Reboot right before you try to install SP3.
7) Disconnect from the internet before installing (physically.)
8) Disable your antivirus and antispyware applications when you are about to
install SP3.

Some (if not all) of that is covered in the above links.

Come back - let us know if any of that helped you out!

--
Shenan Stanley
MS-MVP
--
How To Ask Questions The Smart Way
http://www.catb.org/~esr/faqs/smart-questions.html

You will need to go to Office Update
(http://office.microsoft.com/en-us/do...incatalog.aspx) and install,
at minimum, Office SP3, Office 2007 Compatibility Pack (and updates for
same).
--
~Robear Dyer (PA Bear)
MS MVP-IE, Mail, Security, Windows Desktop Experience - since 2002
AumHa VSOP & Admin http://aumha.net
DTS-L http://dts-l.net/

mhd wrote:
> Hi, I am unable to open up .docx format word filies on my old word 2003
> system. What are my options beside having to install 1. the service pack
> 3
> (EVERYTIME I install one of MS service packs it messes up my system and i
> spend hours trying to get everything to work properly again so i am very
> reluctant in doing so) and then 2. installing the monster program
> microsoft
> coverter?
>
> All I want is some low-tech conversion option where I dont need to spend
> hours downloading monster programs that will slow my computer down and
> mess
> up all my settings etc. Any alternatives would be greatly appreciated....
>
> tx.

mhd wrote:
> Hi, I am unable to open up .docx format word filies on my old word
> 2003 system. What are my options beside having to install 1. the
> service pack 3 (EVERYTIME I install one of MS service packs it
> messes up my system and i spend hours trying to get everything to
> work properly again so i am very reluctant in doing so) and then 2.
> installing the monster program microsoft coverter?
>
> All I want is some low-tech conversion option where I dont need to
> spend hours downloading monster programs that will slow my computer
> down and mess up all my settings etc. Any alternatives would be
> greatly appreciated....

Shenan Stanley wrote:
> You seem to have some misunderstanding of requirements and options.
>
> You don't need Windows XP Service Pack 3 in order to install the
> Office Compatibility Pack:
> http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/d...3-c6bb74cd1466
> 27.5 MB download (just over an hour on dial-up.)
>
> You do not need Windows XP Service Pack 3 in order to install the
> Word viewer:
> http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/d...c-f4f827f20cac
> 24.5 MB download (about an hour on dial-up.)
> (Although you do need the Microsoft Office Compatibility Pack for
> Word, Excel, and PowerPoint 2007 File Formats from above to do what
> it is you want to do...)
>
> If you are having trouble installing patches - then something is
> natively wrong with your computer and should likely be fixed.
>
> - Download and install the latest hardware drivers directly from the
> individual hardware manufacturer's support web pages (not
> Microsoft - unless Microsoft happens to make a piece of hardware
> you own - I suggest *not* getting hardware drivers offered by them)
> for each piece of hardware you have in your computer.
>
> - Download, install, run, update and perform a full scan
> (separately) with the
> following two applications (freeware versions are the ones to use
> for this):
> SuperAntiSpyware
> http://www.superantispyware.com/
>
> MalwareBytes
> http://www.malwarebytes.com/
>
> After performing a full scan with one and then the other and
> removing whatever they both find completely, you may uninstall
> these products, if you wish.
>
>
> Advice specific to Service Pack 3 for Windows XP:
>
> With proper preparation - you are unlikely to have problems - and
> if you have been performing proper maintenance all along - even if
> you do - you are only out a short period of time (restoring from
> the backup/drive image you made wisely before diving in...)
>
> A place to get FREE support for SP3 installation issues *from
> Microsoft*...
> http://support.microsoft.com/oas/def...3&gprid=522131
>
> WinXP SP3 - Read all prerequisites for a successful installation
> http://msmvps.com/blogs/harrywaldron...tallation.aspx
>
> Steps to take before you install Windows XP Service Pack 3
> http://support.microsoft.com/kb/950717
>
> Suggestions:
>
> 1) Download the full SP3 installation file and/or burn the ISO
> download to CD.
> 2) Ensure (as well as plausible) you have no spyware/malware by
> doing a full scan with SuperAntiSpyware and MalwareBytes.
> 3) CHKDSK
> 4) Defragment
> 5) Ensure your hardware drivers are up to date (from the hardware
> manufacturer's respective web pages.)
> 6) Reboot right before you try to install SP3.
> 7) Disconnect from the internet before installing (physically.)
> 8) Disable your antivirus and antispyware applications when you are
> about to install SP3.
>
> Some (if not all) of that is covered in the above links.
>
> Come back - let us know if any of that helped you out!

I may have misunderstood your reference to Service Pack 3... Although I
have not seen Office Service Pack 3 'mess up' anyone's system before (seen
difficulty installing it due to lack of original installation media, but
have not seen that many issues with a whole computer after installing it...)

The advice I gave is still valid - none-the-less - other than the fact that
if you need Office 2003 SP3, you can download it here:
http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/d...2-5E3C1132F206


But it is interesting to note that the advice I gave you still
stands although the SP3 refered to might have changed...

You don't need Office 2003 Service Pack 3 in order to install the
Office Compatibility Pack:
http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/d...3-c6bb74cd1466
27.5 MB download (just over an hour on dial-up.)
(Relevant Requirements: Windows XP Service Pack 2 and Microsoft
Office Word 2003 with at least Service Pack 1, Microsoft Office
Excel 2003 with at least Service Pack 1, and Microsoft Office
PowerPoint 2003 with at least Service Pack 1)

You do not need Office 2003 Service Pack 3 in order to install
the Word viewer:
http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/d...c-f4f827f20cac
24.5 MB download (about an hour on dial-up.)
(Although you do need the Microsoft Office Compatibility Pack for Word,
Excel, and PowerPoint 2007 File Formats from above to do what it is
you want to do...)
(Relevant Requirements: Windows XP Service Pack 2)

My suggestion - as long as your Microsoft Office 2003 has at least SP1
installed for it and your Windows XP has at least SP2 installed for it -
grab the "Microsoft Office Compatibility Pack for Word, Excel, and
PowerPoint 2007 File Formats" and install it. It is not a "monster" as you
seem to think - under 28MB download? That's relatively small these days
when it comes to downloads like that.

--
Shenan Stanley
MS-MVP
--
How To Ask Questions The Smart Way
http://www.catb.org/~esr/faqs/smart-questions.html

[Please note that Office 2003 SP2 and earlier is no longer supported!]

Shenan Stanley wrote:
> mhd wrote:
>> Hi, I am unable to open up .docx format word filies on my old word
>> 2003 system. What are my options beside having to install 1. the
>> service pack 3 (EVERYTIME I install one of MS service packs it
>> messes up my system and i spend hours trying to get everything to
>> work properly again so i am very reluctant in doing so) and then 2.
>> installing the monster program microsoft coverter?
>>
>> All I want is some low-tech conversion option where I dont need to
>> spend hours downloading monster programs that will slow my computer
>> down and mess up all my settings etc. Any alternatives would be
>> greatly appreciated....
>
> Shenan Stanley wrote:
>> You seem to have some misunderstanding of requirements and options.
>>
>> You don't need Windows XP Service Pack 3 in order to install the
>> Office Compatibility Pack:
>> http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/d...3-c6bb74cd1466
>> 27.5 MB download (just over an hour on dial-up.)
>>
>> You do not need Windows XP Service Pack 3 in order to install the
>> Word viewer:
>> http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/d...c-f4f827f20cac
>> 24.5 MB download (about an hour on dial-up.)
>> (Although you do need the Microsoft Office Compatibility Pack for
>> Word, Excel, and PowerPoint 2007 File Formats from above to do what
>> it is you want to do...)
>>
>> If you are having trouble installing patches - then something is
>> natively wrong with your computer and should likely be fixed.
>>
>> - Download and install the latest hardware drivers directly from the
>> individual hardware manufacturer's support web pages (not
>> Microsoft - unless Microsoft happens to make a piece of hardware
>> you own - I suggest *not* getting hardware drivers offered by them)
>> for each piece of hardware you have in your computer.
>>
>> - Download, install, run, update and perform a full scan
>> (separately) with the
>> following two applications (freeware versions are the ones to use
>> for this):
>> SuperAntiSpyware
>> http://www.superantispyware.com/
>>
>> MalwareBytes
>> http://www.malwarebytes.com/
>>
>> After performing a full scan with one and then the other and
>> removing whatever they both find completely, you may uninstall
>> these products, if you wish.
>>
>>
>> Advice specific to Service Pack 3 for Windows XP:
>>
>> With proper preparation - you are unlikely to have problems - and
>> if you have been performing proper maintenance all along - even if
>> you do - you are only out a short period of time (restoring from
>> the backup/drive image you made wisely before diving in...)
>>
>> A place to get FREE support for SP3 installation issues *from
>> Microsoft*...
>> http://support.microsoft.com/oas/def...3&gprid=522131
>>
>> WinXP SP3 - Read all prerequisites for a successful installation
>> http://msmvps.com/blogs/harrywaldron...tallation.aspx
>>
>> Steps to take before you install Windows XP Service Pack 3
>> http://support.microsoft.com/kb/950717
>>
>> Suggestions:
>>
>> 1) Download the full SP3 installation file and/or burn the ISO
>> download to CD.
>> 2) Ensure (as well as plausible) you have no spyware/malware by
>> doing a full scan with SuperAntiSpyware and MalwareBytes.
>> 3) CHKDSK
>> 4) Defragment
>> 5) Ensure your hardware drivers are up to date (from the hardware
>> manufacturer's respective web pages.)
>> 6) Reboot right before you try to install SP3.
>> 7) Disconnect from the internet before installing (physically.)
>> 8) Disable your antivirus and antispyware applications when you are
>> about to install SP3.
>>
>> Some (if not all) of that is covered in the above links.
>>
>> Come back - let us know if any of that helped you out!
>
> I may have misunderstood your reference to Service Pack 3... Although I
> have not seen Office Service Pack 3 'mess up' anyone's system before (seen
> difficulty installing it due to lack of original installation media, but
> have not seen that many issues with a whole computer after installing
> it...)
>
> The advice I gave is still valid - none-the-less - other than the fact
> that
> if you need Office 2003 SP3, you can download it here:
> http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/d...2-5E3C1132F206
>
>
> But it is interesting to note that the advice I gave you still
> stands although the SP3 refered to might have changed...
>
> You don't need Office 2003 Service Pack 3 in order to install the
> Office Compatibility Pack:
> http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/d...3-c6bb74cd1466
> 27.5 MB download (just over an hour on dial-up.)
> (Relevant Requirements: Windows XP Service Pack 2 and Microsoft
> Office Word 2003 with at least Service Pack 1, Microsoft Office
> Excel 2003 with at least Service Pack 1, and Microsoft Office
> PowerPoint 2003 with at least Service Pack 1)
>
> You do not need Office 2003 Service Pack 3 in order to install
> the Word viewer:
> http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/d...c-f4f827f20cac
> 24.5 MB download (about an hour on dial-up.)
> (Although you do need the Microsoft Office Compatibility Pack for Word,
> Excel, and PowerPoint 2007 File Formats from above to do what it is
> you want to do...)
> (Relevant Requirements: Windows XP Service Pack 2)
>
> My suggestion - as long as your Microsoft Office 2003 has at least SP1
> installed for it and your Windows XP has at least SP2 installed for it -
> grab the "Microsoft Office Compatibility Pack for Word, Excel, and
> PowerPoint 2007 File Formats" and install it. It is not a "monster" as
> you
> seem to think - under 28MB download? That's relatively small these days
> when it comes to downloads like that.
>
> --
> Shenan Stanley
> MS-MVP

<snipped>

PA Bear [MS MVP] wrote:
> [Please note that Office 2003 SP2 and earlier is no longer
> supported!]

Supported, no.
Could be left alone in this case - yeah. ;-)

As I stated, the OP should likely fix whatever problem(s) their computer has
that gets exposed when they install updates - as it is better to be patched
and secure than 'just working for now'.

--
Shenan Stanley
MS-MVP
--
How To Ask Questions The Smart Way
http://www.catb.org/~esr/faqs/smart-questions.html