Slow Word Startup

[EngH]

When I first installed Office 2007, Word worked fine. When I clicked on any
Word document, whether docx or doc, it opened immediately. But after I
updated Windows and Office with the latest updates, it takes a long time to
open a docx Word document - about 30 seconds! And whenever I try to open a
doc first, it hangs. But if I open a docx first, and then open a doc, it
works. Why is that?

I thought it was the network printer issue, so I dealt with that, but it
doesn't solve the problem. Please help!

acts1322

 

[Terry Farrell]

That may be a symptom of a Word Data Key corruption - usually because Word
has been running when updates are installed.

Run Regedit and expand by double-clicking to the key below. With DATA
selected, press DELETE. Word will automatically recreate a new key when it
is restarted.

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Office\12.0\Word\Data

Symptoms of Data Key corruption may include:

• The mouse does not work when you use Word.
• You cannot open a Word document from the Search window in Windows
Vista.
• You cannot open a Word document from Windows Desktop Search.
• Word crashes when you try to start or exit Word.
• Word crashes when you open the Open dialog box.
• Word crashes when you save a document.
• Word crashes when you close a document.

If you feel uncomfortable editing the registry yourself, Microsoft have a
download that will do this for you. See MSKB 940791
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/940791

Terry Farrell - MSWord MVP

 

[TonyB]

Hi Terry - hope I can latch onto this thread, as I have exactly the same
problem but in Word 2002 SP3; and with the added frustration that opening any
other app, or minimising Word, and then returning to Word, makes the mouse
inoperable for 5-10 seconds. And if I lose patience waiting, and click on
the doc, the title bar changes to "MS Word not responding" and sends me to a
MS site inviting me to upgrade! Can I do the same alteration in Regedit for
Word 2002 as you suggest for Word 2007?
Many TIA,
Tony.

 

[Terry Farrell]

That's most unlikely top be the same problem - though I wouldn't rule it out
100%.

Try following this troubleshooting guide to see if it either finds the
problem or provides more clues:
http://word.mvps.org/FAQs/AppErrors/ProblemsStartingWord.htm

Terry