Can't use word with latest Beta version

[Fabman]

I downloaded the latest Beta2 refresh and now I cant access any of my word
and publisher docs. It says "can't find file" or some such thing. I thought I
read somewhere that the view and print functions in the latest refresh have
been disabled. This is MOST inconvenient as now every piece of business on my
hard drive is now useless ....is there any way of fixing this?

 

[Fabman]

Yes it stays on the opening page but several dialogue boxes appear over one
another. The first says cannot be performed because a dialoge box is open,
under that is cannot open document template. I tried turning off my norton
but thats not working or i'm not doing it correctly...I cannot open in any
other versions as i can't acess anything but the new beta....i will NEVER do
a beta test again...I am clearly over my head here. If I could, I'd go back
to my 2003 setup but my restore says can't do it for some reason....thanks
for any help.

 

[Fabman]

Says page unavailible....

Norton's Office plug-in is giving people fits with this beta. Here's the
instructions on how to fix it or disable it:
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/329820/en-us

Good luck to you, hon.

 

[Larry Linson]

. . . If I could, I'd go back to my 2003 setup but my
restore says can't do it for some reason....thanks
for any help.

So, not only did you install a Beta Test Version on your production machine
(apparently without making a full backup), but you installed it over your
current version?

At least, you should have learned some object lessons, here. One of those
should be that you should carefully, very carefully read the admonitions
about installing any beta before doing so -- because if you now, too late,
go back and read them, I think you'll find you were warned about all the
things that are causing you so much trouble.

Betas should really be installed on a separate, test machine. Failing that,
if you are really "feeling lucky," you could install them on a separate
virtual machine.

Larry Linson
Microsoft Access MVP

 

[Fabman]

I was told by the tech who taught me how to build my first computer to
"Always trust anything that comes from Microsoft. Install any updates and
parches etc. that they offer" Aparently, that was that information is
dated.....yes, i have learned....next computer will be a mac.

 

[Fabman]

live update says up to date-still no go. I have norton 2006 and iit is
current....

 

[Fabman]

Maybe i should be asking how to get rid of the beta and go back to office
2003....aparently the beta wrote over the old program as I do not see it in
remove programs....

 

[Larry Linson]

I was told by the tech who taught me how to build my first computer to
"Always trust anything that comes from Microsoft. Install any updates and
parches etc. that they offer" Aparently, that was that information is
dated.....yes, i have learned....next computer will be a mac.

That advice was, generally, good for _release versions_ of commercial
software.

It is abominable advice for _Test versions_ of any software, Microsoft or
other.

My advice applies also to Macs -- if you are going to install beta software,
do it on a separate spare machine, or at least obtain virtual machine
software and install it on a separate virtual machine. Why would you assume
that prerelease versions of software, sent out for the purpose of testing
and identifying bugs, would be any more stable in the Mac world than in the
Windows world?

However, your tech should also have cautioned that, to be safe, you should
make a full backup before installing _any_ new software package, release or
otherwise. That advice, too, applies to both Windows and Mac machines.

Larry Linson
Microsoft Access MVP

 

[Fabman]

I amy have the original software that came with my computer somewhere, but
don't want to loos all my files in the process of a full restore....

 

[Fabman]

Very good advise in hindsight.....when Microsoft sends me something that says
download whatever i always do it....I never suspected that it would instantly
and constantly crash my outlook as it did originally, then once thats was
finally running okay the "refresh" came out....I expected it to address
existing concerns, not instantly create new ones....as I said earlier, i am
obviously over my head with this. Generally, there is software over software
with most relating to "security" and gaurding against attacks and
viruses....many conflict with eachother and cause problems of their own...it
seems like a house of cards to a layman like myself. I understand of the
thousands of viruses....none apply to the Mac....so the need for constant
patching and security updates and soforth would be far less frequent and
disruptive...sorry so bitter, but this has been causing me extreme discomfort
and total havoc with my business and financial affairs.....should I have
downloaded the beta? Obviously not....but I can not imagine there is no
provision for removing the program built into the program itself....thats
like a ship with no life rafts.....passengers cant sail the ship or save it
when it sinks....they just pay for a ticket, go for the ride and use the
escape mechinisim when nescessary.....

 

[Fabman]

I understand that this beta version will expire at some point....what happens
then? Will it go back to 2003 or will I loose all functionability? To
recap.....2003 no longer appears in my control pannel...

 

[John Vinson]

I understand that this beta version will expire at some point....what happens
then? Will it go back to 2003 or will I loose all functionability? To
recap.....2003 no longer appears in my control pannel...

Exactly.

As the 2007 install dialog explained, it overwrote and replaced your
2003 installation. You clicked "Yes" when asked if this was OK.

You will need to completely uninstall 2007 and reinstall 2003 from the
original CD's. It is GONE from your hard disk.

John W. Vinson[MVP]

 

[Fabman]

Okay, so i found the original bundle that came with my Dell....will it over
write my files too or just my programs? Should i un installl 2007 first or
will 2003 over write 2007?

 

[John Vinson]

Okay, so i found the original bundle that came with my Dell....will it over
write my files too or just my programs?

Just the programs. Of course any Word documents you've edited with
2007 will probably be uneradable by 2003.

Should i un installl 2007 first or
will 2003 over write 2007?

Ummm... think about it.

When was Word 2003 created?
When was Word 2007 created?
How likely is it that the developers of Word 2003 knew exactly how
Word 2007 would be implemented and installed, so that they could allow
for this possibility?

Uninstall 2007. This may not be easy. And reread Granny Spitz'
suggestions, which you appear to be ignoring completely.

John W. Vinson[MVP]