Big problem: Cannot open, save or save as any file in any program of Office 2003 Professional. The program freezes, and the message is "program not responding". I sent numerous error reports to Microsoft - no avail!

My system: Windows XP (Service Pack 2) - automatic updates enabled.
Norton Antivirus 2006: Updates and autoprotect enabled.

Interesting: My desktop, connected through local network, does exactly the same, but the problem arose simultaniously on both computers while i was away, not connected to the network for two days.

I tried the following:
1. Fully Uninstalled Office and reinstalled.
2. Ran Spybot.
3. Ran BugDoctor
4. Ran CCleaner
5. Ran ErrorKiller
6. I followed al the advice i could get on this forum - no avail.
7. Microsoft apparently does no know about such a problem - it is not in theri knowledge base.

My patience is wearing thin. Is reinstalling Windows the only option?

Marico

Two different computers and the same problem?

When you get the error window have you clicked on the Details button?

Also: look in your Event viewer: rt. click My Computer then click Manage then Event Viewer.
Or: Administrative Tools/Event Viewer or Start/Run/ eventvwr
Open the system as well as the application tabs & look for X errors. Click error line for details.
Post back the source & event id & Description especially of errors that seem to coincide with this issue.
Also check the Information lines that might coincide with this issue.

How to view and manage event logs in Event Viewer in Windows XP

Also view your Error Log via:

[1] Start Menu
[2] Help and Support
[3] Pick a Task
[4] Tools
[5] Advanced System Information
[6] View the Error Log

Look for any synchronous entries.

As another test Try booting into Safe Mode by repeatedly tapping the F8 key after your BIOS POST but before Windows starts. Will it work here? Also try turning off Norton and try.

Dear friends,
After about two days and much stress, I decided to reformat and install everything from scratch. But my nephew arrived and helped search. WE FOUND THE PROBLEM!!
The culprit is none other but MICROSOFT themselves!
On 11 April (it reached my computer 18 April) Microsoft posted a security update KB908513 with the file verclsid.exe in it. This blooming file is the problem.
I uninstalled the update and, wallah, the problem is solved!
This problem also manifests itself by not allowing Explorer directories to expand when the "+" is clicked.
A thread found on another forum links this problem with some software written by Hewlett Packhard. My laptop is hp pavillion zt3301A, but my desktop, which experienced the same problems, is Dell Dimension DIM 4700 P4 2.8GHz!
I suspect that the fellows at Microsoft might by now know about this problem, sitting with red faces behind their closed office doors.
Thanks for your help!
marico

You may experience problems in Windows Explorer or in the Windows shell after you install security update MS06-015

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/918165