Microsoft probably made an unsolicited update to my winXP. Till now I worked without trouble with my old Office97 and as from today when I try to open any word file I receive message saying “this version of Word is not compatible with your windows version etc.” The Word screen opens then and I can load my files from within the Word, but when trying to open a file directly from the disk list the program says that it does not find the file.
I tried to reinstall the Office97 from CD, and also System restore, but to no avail.
I tried also to use the compatibility wizard but on my windows only the help file exists for the wizard.
Please advise
thanks

Just as a first response: Microsoft does not make unsolicited updates unless you are referring to Automatic Updates.

Automatic Updates are a users choice.

Every second Tuesday Automatic Updates are released which would have been the past Tuesday.

These updates usually create a Restore point.

Have you tried a Restore point prior to this?

What updates did windows do? What kind of file are you trying to open? If the file name ends in .docx office 97 will probably be unable to open it. Office 97 is now 4 versions old, it is long since unsupported by MS, and it isn't supported for use on XP. This means that MS can't guarantee that it will work on XP. It isn't surprising that you are experiencing file incompatibilities especially on files created on newer versions of office. In short your version is too old and if you can you should upgrade.

I tried sytem restore to a month and 6 weeks ago but it didn't do anything.
Till 2-3 days ago I had no problem with Word97.
I use this program as the newer Office version are more complicated and sophisticated for graphics, and 97 is perfect for me
anyway thanks

What happened when you "tried to reinstall the Office97 from CD"?

Also bear in mind there will most likely be more "Office" experts passing through here tomorrow.

The Office97 reinstalled correctly but the problem persists

Originally Posted by townsbg

and it isn't supported for use on XP

Sure it is. Microsoft no longer supports Office 97 products, but they will run on XP.

As for installing, I found this which may help - Install Office 97 on Windows XP SP2

However, one of the main reasons Microsoft no longer supports Office 97 products is because it was developed with security was not really an issue. If the budget does not allow an upgrade, consider OpenOffice.org.

XP isn't on the list the of operating systems under the system requirements. I'm not saying that it won't run just that you can't depend on it running. It sounds to me that he tried to open a word document created by a later version that didn't have backwards compatibility formatted into it.

XP isn't on the list the of operating systems

That's because MS does not support it officially, and when that was published, they wanted users to move to (pay for!) Office 2000

It sounds to me that he tried to open a word document created by a later version that didn't have backwards compatibility formatted into it.

No, otherwise, this would not happen

The Word screen opens then and I can load my files from within the Word