Cannot open Word files! Corrupted encodings and spreading?!?!?

[jon_chew]

Hey mac geniuses!

I fix mac computers too, but I'd love your take & expert advice on my friend's computer w/ these two issues. Searched forums & google without much luck.

1. Corrupted word for mac issues
She cannot open these files. It also seems to be "spreading" to other files! When we open, it popups asking which encoding to use, UNICODE, ETC, but whatever you choose you still get GARBAGE
2. Non-persistent desktop icon locations after reboot


1) started a week ago with only one document. Now, it seems to have "spread" to 3-4 documents, and they cannot be open. Friend's scared this may be a "virus"

Mac OS X 10.4
white macbook
70% SURE IT'S office 2004

My take:
a) It's most likely a file system corruption? (indicated by the non-persistant icon changes)
OR
b) It could also be an office-specific issue, when it saves files it corrupts them b/c of a recent update?


What I'm going to try:
1) I'm going to try out ms' "document troubleshoot diagnostic" document: http://support.microsoft.com/kb/285393
- also open on another computer, another account, in safe mode, etc
2) Updating the Microsoft office to the newest version

IF FILE SYSTEM:
- usual ( repair disk permissions, try with safe boot user,
- manually update the mac osx disk combo (TO 10.4.11)



Does anyone have any experience with this specific error?

 

[MisterMe]

Welcome to the forum.

That said, the gist of your post is that your friend has a problem with Microsoft Word files and the problems appear to be growing. If you want help, then you need to give some relevant information.

 

[jon_chew]

Heya,

haha, i guess that's a good summary.

I fixed the system problems and removed office and installed it again, which fixed most of the problems. It seems the only one left is the fact that a number of her files have become corrupted.

I've included one of these documents, if anyone wants to take a crack at it.

I've followed all the recommended options from inside Word, 2004. http://support.microsoft.com/kb/285393

If you want more info, she was installing a codec called "codec lite" on her mac. That froze and she unplugged the battery to restart. After that, she was typing in word and word froze.

The same document that was open, got corrupted, as well as some others

Does that make any sense?

 

[DeltaMac]

Looks like this thread has become a spam magnet...

 

[ElDiabloConCaca]

It's got all the key words: Mac, Microsoft, Office, links to Microsoft tech documents, etc.

Shame.