Can't open/save files from any Office 2003 App. HELP!! please?

[aich69]

I have a laptop in front of me - Sony VAIO, XP Home, Office 2003.

The problem... When you try to open a file whilst using WORD it freezes and won't open any folder or file, you then have to use task mngr. to close WORD.

Similar thing happens when using OUTLOOK. Try to attach a file to an email and the whole thing locks up, same remedy.

I have repaired Office, re-installed Office, updated Office...you get the idea, but all to no avail.

Has anyone come accross this before? Please - someone put me out of my misery.

Thanks in advance.

 

[TonyJollans]

See if this helps:

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/918165

("Problems in Windows Explorer or the Windows shell after you install security update MS06-015").


Enjoy,
Tony

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
We want to help you; help us to do it by reading this: Before you ask a question.
Excel VBA Training and more Help at VBAExpress[

 

[aich69]

many thanks Tony for such a quick pointer...

you were in the right area....it turned out to be MS update 908531 conflicting with some HP share-to-web software.

All sorted now that update has been uninstalled.

thanks again....

 

[aich69]

apologies Tony, on further reading you were spot on! the update you mentioned and the one I removed are one in the same.

Cheers

Henry

 

[conceptumator]

I just encountered this exact problem with one of the computers I take care of for my church. Rather than uninstalling the security update, you can also do a repair to the Office install and it fixes the issue.

 

[TonyJollans]

conceptumator,

The problem which many people, including aich69, are experiencing is caused by HP share-to-web (and possibly some other non-MS) software conflicting with a Windows security update. The suggested fix does not involve uninstalling the update.

Nothing from Microsoft or anything else I have seen has even suggested that repairing the Office installation would solve it. Are you quite sure you had the same problem? If so, I would be very interested in any further information you have as it would be a better recommendation than a registry edit for many users.

Enjoy,
Tony

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
We want to help you; help us to do it by reading this: Before you ask a question.
Excel VBA Training and more Help at VBAExpress[

 

[aich69]

uninstalling the update solved the problem, however one drawback is that this update can't be 'hidden' from what I have seen so far so it will always try to install.

I tried the Microsoft reg edit but to no avail.
A repair of Office didn't work either, as was the case with a complete uninstall/re-install of Office.

For my instance, removing the HP Share to Web app was a viable option, just leaving only the drivers for the printer installed. However this isn't going to be viable if you are a user of that particular app.

If anyone gets the reg edit to work please post the DWord value on here, be interested to see if the working one differs to the one on Bill's page.

 

[TonyJollans]

Many users have reported that the registry fix works but the instructions are not the best and the long key name breaks on the web page so that people don't know if there should be a space between the two long strings or not. Some users find that the fix doesn't help and Microsoft have promised to update the fix on Tuesday - why it has to wait that long, I don't quite know.

I think you are right in saying that automatic updates will keep on trying to reinstall the update if you uninstall it and I don't think there's any way to tell it to give up trying.

Enjoy,
Tony

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
We want to help you; help us to do it by reading this: Before you ask a question.
Excel VBA Training and more Help at VBAExpress[

 

[aich69]

Well I guess we should think ourselves lucky that it's serious enough for MS to take note and get a fix out. Like you say....why the delay tho?

I had a break in my value string, maybe try again with no break.....or maybe just wait for MS to grace us with their fix.

Thanks for the input Tony. Appreciated.

 

[TonyJollans]

I don't use automatic updates so I can't do much more than pass on what I have just read somewhere else (this topic is hot!). If you have it set to prompt you rather than just doing things when you're not looking, then when you are asked about downloading #908531 again you can say no, and there should be a checkbox for "don't show me this one again". When MS have sorted the problem you can use the command (in Automatic Updates) to "Offer updates that I've previously hidden".

Enjoy,
Tony

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
We want to help you; help us to do it by reading this: Before you ask a question.
Excel VBA Training and more Help at VBAExpress[

 

[conceptumator]

Thanks for the pointer, Tony -

It was the same issue - ths person having it had the Share to Web software installed, but his problem was with Office. I since found out that while it appeared to fix the problem, it only somewhat fixed the problem. He can now access files through Word and Excel, but only if they are the only file in a folder. If the folder contains anything else, it freezes. I'll get the update uninstalled and see if I have any other issues. Thanks again for your help.