Office locks up my computer after a few minutes of use

[higginsoft]

Microsoft Office 2003 Professional locks up my computer after a few minutes
of use. I have already done the unistall/reinstall.

When it happens, it is usually when I select a menu option, but not always.
I use two monitors, and if I move the Outlook window from one monitor to the
other, it is a guarantee computer lockup. Also, when it happens, some text
on the screen goes weird in appearance, sort of like how the different colors
are offset in a 3D display that requires the red/blue lens glasses.

The only way out of the lock up is a cold reboot.

I'm using Windows XP Pro and an Athlon 64 3500+ CPU.

I've already had to switch to Mozilla Thunderbird so I can read my email.
I'll have to switch to another Word Processor if this isn't solved soon.

Richard Higgins
(e-mail address removed)

 

[Bob I]

My money is on the video driver(s). Upgrade/install a newer/correct
version for each adapter. Get them from the manufacturers web site NOT
MS Windows Update.

 

[higginsoft]

That didn't help.

Another problem, that I forgot to mention in the first post, is that
sometimes Word or Outlook simply just forces a warm boot. That is what Word
did after about three minutes, even after updating the ATI Radeon drivers.

 

[Bob I]

The issue is not Word or Outlook itself. You have an issue with hardware
and drivers. Turn off automatic reboot(Winkey+Break, Advanced, Startup
and recovery settings, and Uncheck Automatically restart. Then when this
PC crashes you will have a Stop code and error message that you can
research. Post the error message and Stop code to the WindowsXP group
for assistance.

 

[Richard Higgins]

I've done what you suggested and I'll see what happens. Not to start an
arguement, but in a sense, this is an Office 2003 issue, because it only
happens when I'm using Office 2003.

Do you have a URL for the WinXP group?

 

[Bob I]

microsoft.public.windowsxp.general on MSnews

I've done what you suggested and I'll see what happens. Not to start an
arguement, but in a sense, this is an Office 2003 issue, because it only
happens when I'm using Office 2003.

Do you have a URL for the WinXP group?

:

 

[Richard Higgins]

Ok, here's what happened...nothing. It still does a reboot on me. And here
is a new twist. Internet Explorer (latest version with all patches) does it
as well, BUT ONLY when I'm on ebay. The only way I can use ebay is to use a
different browser.

 

[Bob I]

Sudden reboots with NO warning are a hardware issue. The cause usually
reduces to overheating, RAM or insufficient powersupply. I would suspect
overheating in this case, triggered by elevating the CPU load. For
starters , pop the cover and check for dirt/dust acumulations , check
fan operations, cables blocking airflow, heatsink attachment, etc. there
is microsoft.public.windowsxp.hardware group also.

 

[Richard Higgins]

I could accept the overheating problem if it wasn't for the fact that I can
run it all day without a problem, but as soon as I open up an Office 2003
application the computer automatically reboots or locks up within three
minutes. Internet Explorer works all day without a problem until I got on
ebay. It doesn't happen as fast as Office 2003, but it does happen everytime.

 

[Bob I]

Well, you're there and I'm here. Obviously it is not Office itself thats
doing it. I've given you things to examine. Good luck in your trouble
shooting.

 

[Larry R]

I have the same processor and the same problem!
I need some help on this!

 

[higginsoft]

Well Larry, I thought I had it fixed. I ran the FixIt Utilities 5
registration cleaner and it seemed to have fixed the problem. I was able to
use MS Word for days, even leaving it open over night without it crashing or
reseting my computer...until this morning. Sure enough it started again,
only this time it crashes within the first 30 seconds after I start it. If I
double-click on a .doc file, the computer resets immediately after MS Word
opens.

 

[higginsoft]

Larry,

After posting the other message I did the following:

1. Uninstalled Office.
2. Searched the registry for all occurances of Microsoft Office and
WINWORD.EXE and deleted them.
3. Reinstalled Office

Results. No better. MS Word causes my computer to reboot in less than 2
minutes after it loads.

Also, I installed the Word 2003 viewer. It does the same thing, only it
caused a reboot as within 15 seconds after a document was loaded into it.

What motherboard are you using. I'm using an ASUS A8V deluxe with 2GB RAM
and no overclocking.

 

[higginsoft]

Larry,

I'll bet you have an ATI Radeon. The problem is Catalyst. I uninstalled it
and MS Word works fine. Reinstalled it and Word crashes the system again.
Uninstalled it, and Word works. Try it out and see. If this is true for
you, go to ATI's site (www.ati.com) and file a problem report. If enough
folks right in to them about this, maybe they'll own up to it and fix it.

 

[higginsoft]

Here is the fix. Get an nVidia graphics card and remove the Radeon.
Radeon's solution is going through a couple dozen "fixes" which dummies down
the card to a genaric graphics card, but even that doesn't fix the problem.
Others on other boards have said they got their's to work by finding a very
much older Catalyst driver, but that may lead to other stability problems.

I installed a new GForce 6800 GT and everything works fine without dummying
down anything. Maybe ATI should hire the nVidia programers to fix their
drivers.

 

[bigbailey]

Microsoft Office 2003 Professional locks up my computer after a few minutes
of use. I have already done the unistall/reinstall.

When it happens, it is usually when I select a menu option, but not always.
I use two monitors, and if I move the Outlook window from one monitor to the
other, it is a guarantee computer lockup. Also, when it happens, some text
on the screen goes weird in appearance, sort of like how the different colors
are offset in a 3D display that requires the red/blue lens glasses.

The only way out of the lock up is a cold reboot.

I'm using Windows XP Pro and an Athlon 64 3500+ CPU.

I've already had to switch to Mozilla Thunderbird so I can read my email.
I'll have to switch to another Word Processor if this isn't solved soon.

Richard Higgins
(e-mail address removed)

 

[Bob I]

I would suspect video card overheating or possibly incorrect drivers.
Office seems to be fairly demanding of the video subsystem.