Microsoft Word Starter

[Mouse]

Didn't know whether to put this thread here or in the writing forum but anyway, my laptop did some updates the other day and since then, a lot of my word files (including my current WiP) have turned into orange icons and won't open. I can click them, and they say 'The Microsoft Office product necessary to open this file is not installed on your computer.' Then it says I have to buy Microsoft Word.

Anybody else have this happen after updates? I was using the free Word Starter program, which is still on my computer, so not sure why it randomly says I can't open the files now.

I've got a file on my desktop which is an rtf file and I can open that fine. If I open that, I can then go through the 'open' option within that file and open all my other ones which are orange, so I can still access my files, I just have to do it the long way.

So any techie people know why this has happened?

 

[Dave]

Never heard of "Word Starter" but I find it hard to believe that you've never bought Word before, or had it pre-installed. It used to be that you could install it on multiple computers with the same license but Bill Gates must have fallen on hard times recently and obviously now needs every penny.

I know a lot of people use Apache OpenOffice.org software which opens Word and Excel documents and spreadsheets without any problem and with much the same functionality, and is free.

You could always uninstall the updates or do a system recovery to a time before the install if you liked it just the way it was. You might have a problem with future updates though.

 

[Ursa major]

If you right-click on the orange file icon and then hover over the "Open with" option, what options are you offered?

Note that the option at the bottom of that list should be something like "Choose a default program...". Is Word Starter offered? If so, you ought to be able to relink that file type with your WP program (i.e. Word Starter).



@Dave: Word Starter is Word2010's version of Microsoft Works.

 

[Lilmizflashythang]

Had this problem before Mouse. It was a free trial, I had to go with Open Office to fix it. Sorry, maybe you can find a MS Works or something that might work.

 

[jastius]

mouse, if you transfer the files to your tablet kingsoft office, a free program, will open them. if you have a thrift store about i would go in and take a look for microsoft works. this will also open the closed files and you will then have the permissions necessary to continue using the programs. the software will ask you if you wish to update. you can refuse this. but anyways a used works program goes for about two dollars. i have one on my offline computer which i find invaluable in coalating projects. however i always save the files in both works and wordpad format for transferring between computers.

 

[TheDustyZebra]

Another fan of Open Office here -- I use it far more than Word.

I do know that the latest Windows update is another hunk of junk. It's got all of our computers doing crappy stuff again. The most recent before this one had fixed the stupid stuff that the one before that messed up, but now we're back to idiocy. When I start my laptop, I have to wait two minutes before logging in, or it makes me wait those two minutes anyway while it sits there motionless and thinks about stuff. It doesn't go black, like it did before, but it won't do anything until it's done thinking. And my husband's computer keeps blacking out or something on restart and telling him something needs updating or something -- I forget what he told me it's doing. Grrrr.

 

[Brian G Turner]

In Windows Explorer, looking at your Word files, right click on one and select "Properties". There should be an option to "Open with". Look in that list and see if Word Starter is still selected, or whether it's trying to select Word instead. It's possible it's defaulted to the wrong program.

If Microsoft will no longer allow you to use Word in any form, then it may be worth looking at a free program such as OpenOffice. It's not got all the bells and whistles of Word, but it surprisingly good.

 

[Mouse]

Nope, never bought Word. Can't afford it! Don't have a tablet either (same reason). My laptop came with this Word Starter pre-installed and I'm not sure it's a free trial cos I've had it about three years now. (Do free trials run that long?)

Already tried the 'open with' thing. I get Microsoft Office, Microsoft Vision Client Handler (or something like that) and Wordpad. If I go to choose default program, I can't find Word Starter anywhere, even though it's sitting right there in my start menu.

Sooo... basically it just seems to be doing this for no reason then. Like TDZ's wait two minutes. Hmm.

Ah well, I think I will download OpenOffice then, thanks guys. I downloaded it for mum's laptop and to be honest, I thought it was what I was using on this one until I had this problem and saw it said Word Starter.

 

[Ursa major]

Already tried the 'open with' thing. I get Microsoft Office, Microsoft Vision Client Handler (or something like that) and Wordpad. If I go to choose default program, I can't find Word Starter anywhere, even though it's sitting right there in my start menu.

In the "Set Default Program..." window, you ought to have a "Browse" button. This will take you to the Program Files folder, in which all your programs can be found.

Not having the program on my PC, I'm not sure whether Word Starter has its own folder** at that level, but if not, it should be in one of the Microsoft folders.



** - I do have a Microsoft Works folder at the top level, so Word Starter (or Office Starter or whatever the package is called) ought to be in there somewhere.

 

[Mouse]

Yeah, but that's what I mean, Ursa, I can't find it. I do 'browse' but it just isn't anywhere. I'll try looking in a Microsoft folder...

edit: yep, not anywhere at all. The Microsoft folder gives me Office14, but when I open that, it's empty.

 

[Ursa major]

And yet the executable for Word Starter must be in there somewhere, otherwise you wouldn't be able to run the program at all.

Could you try using Search (for, say "starter") when you're in the Program Files folder rather than opening the individual folders?

 

[Erin99]

My sister had this exact problem. You won't find the software because it runs virtually. The way to fix it is to "repair" your Starter installation.

Steps below, care of How can I make Word Starter 2010 the default program for word - Microsoft Community


1) Repair Office Starter:

1. Go to Control Panel
2. Click Programs and Features
3. Click Microsoft Office Starter 2010 – English
4. Click Change
5. Click Yes

Note: Restart computer if needed

2) Set office starter as default program:

1. Click any Word or Excel file
2. Select Open With
3. Select Choose Default Program
4. Click Microsoft Application Virtualization DDE Launcher (or, in some cases, "Microsoft Office Client Virtualization Handler")
5. Click OK

 

[Ursa major]

I thought someone who knows what they're doing would eventually arrive in the thread.


So does that mean Word Starter only works when the device is online? Or is there a version that can be downloaded?

 

[Mouse]

Leisha, you're a star! That's fixed it perfectly. Yay! No excuses not to write now.

 

[Erin99]

Wonderful news!

So does that mean Word Starter only works when the device is online? Or is there a version that can be downloaded?

I don't have the Starter edition, so I can only go on memory (and what a terrible memory it is!), from when I looked at my sister's copy, which was pre-installed on her laptop. I... think... I remember it loading even when her wifi was disabled. However, it does run with ads, and one would think that if Microsoft can't run their ads (no internet available), the software wouldn't open...

And here's a dowload page: Microsoft Office Starter 2010 free download - Downloads - freeware, shareware, software trials, evaluations - PC & Tech Authority Downloads

 

[Mouse]

Hmm. I can't see any ads on my version, but maybe that's because I'm running ad blocker? Mine definitely still worked when my wifi was off because I took my laptop on hol recently and did some writing.

 

[Erin99]

An ad blocker only blocks ads in the browser it's installed into; it doesn't work on other programs. Unless there's some software out there that does it? I don't know, I don't really look that sort of stuff up any more.

Maybe your firewall is blocking Starter's outgoing/incoming communication? Whatever it is, be grateful! There'd be rotating ads in Starter's banner otherwise!

 

[Mouse]

Now that Word Starter's fixed, my laptop decided to die twice, then say it 'failed to start up,' tried to run repairs, said it couldn't, then did black screen for ages before it'd start! Don't know if it's connected or if my laptop's just overheated. I've put the fan on it now and it seems ok. Urgently saved all my files to a USB drive.

 

[Erin99]

I can't see how the problem is related to repairing Starter, don't worry. And the "failed to start up" is just a generic screen you get if Windows didn't load all the way; i.e., the laptop died first.

Have you ever opened your laptop and cleaned it carefully? You'll be surprised at how much dust will be inside the fans and airflow pipes, if it has any.

And, do you work with it on your knee, where it could overheat? I recommend one of these: http://www.amazon.co.uk/s/ref=nb_sb...&sprefix=laptop+tr,aps&rh=i:aps,k:laptop tray. I have one with a light on it and a comfy cushiony bottom to rest on my knee.

 

[Mouse]

Oh, I didn't mean it had broken because I'd repaired Starter, I meant the laptop updates might've knackered it in some way.

I've not opened it and cleaned it, no. Probably should. It's probably full of biscuit crumbs! It is on my lap, yeah. I've now got it sitting on my laptop fan though so it's cooled down and seems to be running ok. (I bought the fan but I hardly ever use it!)