I have been using Word recently and all was fine until one day when I tried opening a saved file, it would not allow me to open it. Microsoft Word/Excel would freeze up during the virus scan and I would have to CTRL + ALT + DELTE and end the program. However, when I click the Word/Excel program and it creates a new file, the program works fine. It only seems to be having problems opening saved files. This is a big headache for me as all my previously saved files cannot open I have uninstalled Office 2003 and reinstalled it, but it does not do anything. I have tried searching for Normal.dot file by searching all files on computer and I can't locate it so I can't delete it. I have unhidden all the hidden files and access and unchecked the hide options. Still couldnt find normal.dot file I do not use Norton, so I know it shouldn't be related to the problems that Norton have. I am using the free virus program MalwareBytes and I'm pretty sure it has nothing to do with the virus program. I think it may have to do with the Windows updates that I might have installed because after that, it did not allow me to open any saved files. Please leave any suggestions because I am running out of ideas.

re: I think it may have to do with the Windows updates that I might have installed because after that, it did not allow me to open any saved files. Assuming you have a System Restore point set prior to the installing the updates, load that restore point and see if you can open the files then. re: I am using the free virus program MalwareBytes and I'm pretty sure it has nothing to do with the virus program. I'm not sure what you mean by that or how you are "pretty sure it has nothing to do with the virus program". Didn't you say it freezes during the virus scan? Try disabling the scan and opening a file you are pretty sure is safe. Another thought would be to copy the files to a USB stick or a CD and see if you can open them on another machine.

Hi, You say 'Microsoft Word/Excel would freeze'. If this is the case then the issue is not Word, and removing Normal.dot will not help. BTW, if you didn't find Normal.dot, your search is probably not set to look in hidden folders or system folders. Look in the 'More Advanced Options' in the search window. If disabling the MalwareBytes scan doesn't work, try uninstalling it and restarting your PC. Another route to seeing what is happening is to go to Windows Task Manager (Ctrl+Shift+Esc) and look in the processes tab when Word or Excel has frozen and see if any program is using lots of CPU time. Regards

Here are a couple of sites that may be of help: http://support.microsoft.com/kb/826864 http://word.mvps.org/FAQs/AppErrors... MIKE http://www.skeptic.com/