Microsoft Word Problem. Help!

[Gail Simone]

Okay, a while back, this weird glitch started happening on my pretty new computer.

If I cut and paste text, from a document or email, and try to paste it onto a WORD blank page, Microsoft Word freezes completely almost every time, and shuts down.

Now, as I need to do this function pretty much every day, it's a major annoyance.

Any ideas?

Gail

[matterconsumer]

Curse Didio :)

What version of Word are you using? Is it patched?

When it crashes does it offer to go to Microsoft's website and give an error report?

[Sarah Beach]

It might be picky about which paste function you use.

Are you using the paste from the right click of the mouse, or the paste function from the edit menu of the word processor program itself?

[Gail Simone]

Just highlighting the text, then control c to cut, control v to paste.

How would i know if it's patched?

Man, how did I ever write Oracle?

Gail

[matterconsumer]

Just highlighting the text, then control c to cut, control v to paste.

How would i know if it's patched?

Man, how did I ever write Oracle?

Gail

Divine inspiration. That's why they call it the muse.

If you go to

office.microsoft.com

Look for the link Check Updates. It will scan your computer and tell you if you need updates.

[Condiment King]

You need to re-install MS Word, Gail.

If you're like me, got your copy from a friend- and don't have the original
discs to reload it - then you're screwed.

Other than that, the best thing you can do is go to microsoft update -
and wisely select which update will best get you up to speed.

[matterconsumer]

I would hold off on any reinstalls until other measures are tried.

The normal.dot template can become corrupted.

Search for it and rename normal.dot to normal.old.

Make sure that Word is closed when you do this.

When you restart Word it will recreate the normal.dot template. This file defines the default settings for Word docs.

[Matt Doc Martin]

I would hold off on any reinstalls until other measures are tried.

The normal.dot template can become corrupted.

Search for it and rename normal.dot to normal.old.

Make sure that Word is closed when you do this.

When you restart Word it will recreate the normal.dot template. This file defines the default settings for Word docs.

He speaks wisely.

[Starba]

In the meantime while you try to fix the problem, there's always the free program OpenOffice that you can download for its word processing program. It's just like Microsoft Office, and you can save as .doc files.

http://www.openoffice.org/

[Cream Filled Taco]

Gail, by any chance does this pretty new computer have Vista on it? If so, it could be any number of wonderful new bugs. Also, do you have the same problem if you paste into other Microsoft Office programs, or even Notepad? I don't use Word (OpenOffice is free, and fully compatible), so I can't be a lot of help here. I'd go with the template rename/delete option suggested above. If that doesn't work, do a reinstall of Word.

[Gail Simone]

I would hold off on any reinstalls until other measures are tried.

The normal.dot template can become corrupted.

Search for it and rename normal.dot to normal.old.

Make sure that Word is closed when you do this.

When you restart Word it will recreate the normal.dot template. This file defines the default settings for Word docs.

Search where and rename it how?

Gail

[KevinTBrown]

Search where and rename it how?

Gail

Mine is in:

C:\Program Files\Microsoft Office\Templates


Or just do a search and look for normal.dot.

And as Matt said, make sure Word is closed. Then rename the file to normal.old. Once that's done, then re-open Word. You should be fine then.

[TCJohnson]

Search where and rename it how?

Gail

If it is not where Kevin said (different versions of office will keep files in different places) then you can do a search using the search function in the start menu.

To rename it right click on file and choose rename.

[Cream Filled Taco]

Gail, if you have Vista, and Word 2007, there is something called the Trust Center under the Options menu. I don't have Vista or Word 2007, so I'm just going off a few posts I found here and there about pasting problems. Anyway, check out the Trust Center, and see if there's anything in there involving bringing info in from other sources, or raised security. Try disabling all the security, and see if it helps.

[matterconsumer]

Search where and rename it how?

Gail

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/308895

The file you're searching for is normal.dot

After the search locates the file (most likely it will be found in more than one location) right click the file name. A menu will appear and Rename will be one of the items listed on the menu.

[matterconsumer]

We do really need to identify whether you're using Windows XP or Vista.

And also which version of Office.

This will help us to provide appropriate responses.

[Gail Simone]

it's not vista!

[EdContradictory]

These computers sound complicated.

[Kyuubi]

it's not vista!



It might be a tumor.



please say it
please say it
please say it
please say it
please say it

[Cream Filled Taco]

it's not vista!

What version of Word is it? And did you add any add-ons to Office or Word before it started happening?

[Cream Filled Taco]

It might be a tumor.


You're right. Vista is a tumor.

[Kyuubi]

O.k., serious time.



You could try highlight/right click/copy then right click/paste

[sk716]

You're right. Vista is a tumor.

Seconded!!!

What a nightmare of an OS. Did you know it hates Firefox? We have yet to get Firefox to run more than once or twice before wigging out.

[matterconsumer]

it's not vista!

Were you able to find normal.dot and rename it?

[KevinTBrown]

It might be a tumor.



please say it
please say it
please say it
please say it
please say it

It's not a tumah!

[Nick Soapdish]

It might be a tumor.


It's not a toomah!

*sheesh*

I was like a minute too slow. :)

[Cream Filled Taco]

Seconded!!!

What a nightmare of an OS. Did you know it hates Firefox? We have yet to get Firefox to run more than once or twice before wigging out.

You let Vista into your home??? Vista doesn't even work with itself, let alone other programs.

[JTPencils]

Gail, sounds to me like you've got some pretty knowledgeable folks here trying to help you out. Wish that I could assist... but I'm not a techie type.

But I WILL say to those that have Vista, and are having issues with it... these three little words....

"Make Mine Mac".

No Vista.

(now dodges the flying debris)

[Night Swordsman]

You let Vista into your home??? Vista doesn't even work with itself, let alone other programs.

I said no to vista. Course installing it would take up most of my Hard Drive space and i would be unable to run it,so it was a easy choice.

Sigh..i remember when a 20 gig HD cost 100 dollars and was a wonderful christmas gift. Siiiigh. The memories.

Also,because no one else has said it: Word Up! :p

[Briareos]

I have a MCSE it is a series of tests that when completed certify you by Microsoft to be fully qualified for their OS. Now based on your description of the problem and research I have done I have come to the cause of your problem:

Global Warming

[JamesRitcheyIII]

In the meantime while you try to fix the problem, there's always the free program OpenOffice that you can download for its word processing program. It's just like Microsoft Office, and you can save as .doc files.

http://www.openoffice.org/

Gail--Starba's totally right. OpenOffice rocks, requires zero time to learn, and you can install practically any template made for Word since--forever. I don't use them, but it even worked with Steve Gerber's comics script template for win95, before I decided I hated templates. It is a complete equivalent/replacement of/for MS Office, and and can handle anything other than .wps and .rtf (I think--they're proprietary). You can save as .doc, pdf, etc. The 'footprint' on the hard drive is a lot smaller, so it's even noticeably faster, and uses less memory.
All comes down to--I've been using it exclusively for 5 years, and have never had a single glitch, loss (it actually repairs the file if a blackout shuts you down) or mishap in any version.

And it's FREE!!!

[Kyuubi]

Does it work for powerpoint?

[Joshua Pantalleresco]

Seconded!!!

What a nightmare of an OS. Did you know it hates Firefox? We have yet to get Firefox to run more than once or twice before wigging out.

After the debacle that was Windows 98 I refuse to touch a new windows package until the bugs are worked out. I was one of the poor bastards who bought the first version. Needless to say I'm glad for european OSs.

JP

[JamesRitcheyIII]

Does it work for powerpoint?

Yup! When you install, towards the end, it asks you to check off powerpoint, excel and word, to make it the default editor--i highly recommend it. It recognizes all template formats for powerpoint that you might get off the web, and has a simple, user-friendly wizard with some pretty sweet templates already installed, that you can edit. I've been hired to occasionally make a few presentations over the years, and I like it better.

[JamesRitcheyIII]

Seconded!!!

What a nightmare of an OS. Did you know it hates Firefox? We have yet to get Firefox to run more than once or twice before wigging out.

They are out to kill free software.

I beta-tested the final release candidate. It refused to install ANY open source programs that I use every day, and that I love. It also wouldn't let any Adobe Products besides Acrobat Reader install. It wouldn't recognize a brand new Memorex DVD burner, nor the Nero disc which came with it, or my almost two-year old HP scanner/printer. MAYBE they followed my feedback for some things, but I doubt it. It utilizes drivers in a different way, and places them so they can't be found by conventional xp open source programs. I've got a 5 year old system with an OK processor, but I gots it rigged up to be very fast, using a small, secondary HD as virtual memory, and the max memory for the board--the recommended amount. It was mind-numbingly slow. I broke the DVD, threw it away, and reinstalled XP Pro. It is breathtakingly fast, once more. I'll move to Linux before I ever install Vista.

[The Xenos]

In the meantime while you try to fix the problem, there's always the free program OpenOffice that you can download for its word processing program. It's just like Microsoft Office, and you can save as .doc files.

http://www.openoffice.org/

I switched to OpenOffice and haven't looked back. Can't say it's never crashed, but it seems more dependable. It also has Powerpoint and Excel and other open source versions of MS. Only really use the excel and word ones though.

Firefox too, but I tend to have more problems with that. Then again, I abuse my browser websurfing and open too many windows for any browsers to handle. My ADD or whatever loves trying to kill Firefox and whatever free memory my computer has. You can never have too many porn windows open.

Anyway, seriously, switch to OpenOffice.

Though in the meantime, try pasting into notepad first. I do that anyway to get rid of fonts and hyperlinks and all that formatting stuff.

Seconded!!!

What a nightmare of an OS. Did you know it hates Firefox? We have yet to get Firefox to run more than once or twice before wigging out.
You let Vista into your home??? Vista doesn't even work with itself, let alone other programs.

He must have gotten the AIDS edition (http://www.penny-arcade.com/comic/2007/02/02).

Though seriously, I keep hearing that Windows Vista is like the plague. Calling it an 'operating system' is simply false advertising as it doesn't seem to operate all that well.

[saintsaucey]

on a completely un related topic anyone willing to loan me their copy of microsoft xp home edition. i accidentally upgraded to xp pro and don't have a code to go with it. now i need to reload xp home and put in the code from the back of the tower. i have like five days to do this before my computer is screwed up again. i'll pay postage

[Corrina]

Huh. Vista came loaded on the new computer.

Can't say it's done anything wonky. Yet. But then I only use my PC for net surfing and email, mostly.

[matterconsumer]

Huh. Vista came loaded on the new computer.

Can't say it's done anything wonky. Yet. But then I only use my PC for net surfing and email, mostly.

Do you write on a typewriter?

[sk716]

You let Vista into your home??? Vista doesn't even work with itself, let alone other programs.

It's not in my home! But unfortunately one cannot get a new computer off the shelf these days without it having Vista installed. And Steph was in desperate need of a new computer, so there you go. I'm looking into deleting the partition that Vista is installed on.

[Lester C.]

1. Windows update and Office update are two different updates that you need to check regularly.

You can update windows here. http://update.microsoft.com/windowsupdate/v6/default.aspx?ln=en-us

You can update office here. http://office.microsoft.com/en-us/downloads/maincatalog.aspx

2. Did you register your version of Office with Microsoft either online or over the phone? If you didn't you can't use all the features of Office or something happened while you registered your program might be messed up. If this is the case you need to get in though with Microsoft Tech support and make sure you have your product key and the Office Instillation CD.

[Lester C.]

Gail--Starba's totally right. OpenOffice rocks, requires zero time to learn, and you can install practically any template made for Word since--forever. I don't use them, but it even worked with Steve Gerber's comics script template for win95, before I decided I hated templates. It is a complete equivalent/replacement of/for MS Office, and and can handle anything other than .wps and .rtf (I think--they're proprietary). You can save as .doc, pdf, etc. The 'footprint' on the hard drive is a lot smaller, so it's even noticeably faster, and uses less memory.
All comes down to--I've been using it exclusively for 5 years, and have never had a single glitch, loss (it actually repairs the file if a blackout shuts you down) or mishap in any version.

And it's FREE!!!

Open office is better than nothing but the suite has nothing on the office suite but it's been a years since I used it so they may have overhauled the program.

[Lester C.]

on a completely un related topic anyone willing to loan me their copy of microsoft xp home edition. i accidentally upgraded to xp pro and don't have a code to go with it. now i need to reload xp home and put in the code from the back of the tower. i have like five days to do this before my computer is screwed up again. i'll pay postage

Most versions of the product limits you to how many computers you can install office on. Once you reach the limit your activation code will no longer enable the software to work. You're best bet is to find the code or call Microsoft directly but that's a long shot.

[DarkOra]

One of these days, I'm seriously gonna grab a bunch of computer savvy comic geeks and start a freelance tech support service for comic creators. :)

Gail... if you're still running into an issue, you have my email and cell #. Feel free to contact me any time with computer questions (and if I can't figure it out, I can always chat with my friends in the upper tiers of tech support over at Dell).

[PatrickG]

They are out to kill free software.

I beta-tested the final release candidate. It refused to install ANY open source programs that I use every day, and that I love. It also wouldn't let any Adobe Products besides Acrobat Reader install. It wouldn't recognize a brand new Memorex DVD burner, nor the Nero disc which came with it, or my almost two-year old HP scanner/printer. MAYBE they followed my feedback for some things, but I doubt it. It utilizes drivers in a different way, and places them so they can't be found by conventional xp open source programs. I've got a 5 year old system with an OK processor, but I gots it rigged up to be very fast, using a small, secondary HD as virtual memory, and the max memory for the board--the recommended amount. It was mind-numbingly slow. I broke the DVD, threw it away, and reinstalled XP Pro. It is breathtakingly fast, once more. I'll move to Linux before I ever install Vista.

I was running Ubuntu earlier this year... and I beta tested the version that just came out.

All I really miss is iTunes' buying convenience and a bit of graphics card recognition for gaming. It was a bit of a pain to get my wireless card to work on Ubuntu Edgy but the beta of Feisty did the job fine.

Within the next year, there are marked improvements hitting the Linux community in terms of graphics handling and driver support.

I'd say that for those who, like me, don't support Vista (and aren't supported by Vista)... Don't rock the boat right away. Check Ubuntu out on a partition or a "Live CD" if you get the chance. If you're a bit more tech-oriented, you might consider Gentoo.

Keep in mind that while the OS is free, there is debate over whether free software can be allowed to play files like MP3s. You will find free software that does... and you will also find paid software that has played for a license to the technology.

And when you have to change, drop Windows like a hot potato. By the time Vistas' bugs are worked out, it will be a bloated mess next to Linux flavors like Ubuntu, which will be closer to your Windows XP (or OSX) background. (You can even make Ubuntu look and function almost exactly like WinXP or OSX using online guides and its default mode is a bit of a hybrid, with improvements.)

Linux is more stable, more secure and you both rely upon and get lots of access to free software.