I have word 2007, but can't open documents e-mailed to me as docx documents

Rohn007,

Thanks for taking the time to respond and for all your detail!

I should have been a little clearer. I save the word documents on my work computer as docx and can open them there, but when I email them to home, I get the error message I mentioned although I have Word 2007 installed. Do you think the procedures you recommend would still apply in that situation?  Paul

Suzanne,

Thanks for taking the time to respond!  I should have been a little clearer.  I save the word documents on my work computer as docx and can open them there, but when I email them to home, I get the error message I mentioned although I have Word 2007 installed.  Paul

If it is happening with more than one file, it sounds like a file association issue. For some reason Windows is treating DOCX files as if they are EXE or COM files.

Here is a selection of ways of fixing file associations:

Try repairing your Office installation, for example via Add or Remove Programs in Control Panel.

Repair or remove Office 2010 - http://office.microsoft.com/en-us/excel-help/repair-or-remove-office-2010-HA010357402.aspx?CTT=1

Re-register the application

There are several different ways you can reset the proper file associations. Word itself provides a way to do it. Open a command prompt window and, at the command line, enter the following:

winword /r

Nothing seems to happen when you press Enter, but Word will reregister itself back in Windows. In the process, it resets the file associations for the files it uses, such as DOC and DOT files. You can close the command prompt window and double-click on a document; Word should start right up.

Alternate Re-register the application

Close the app. Open the Run Window: <WIN> R, use the following command (Modify the Path to match your specific installation):

"C:\Program Files\Microsoft Office\Office\winword.exe" /unregserver

The quotes are necessary, but you may need to change the path so it reflects the location of the winword.exe file on your system. (You can use Windows’ Search tool to locate the path to the winword.exe file.) The /unregserver switch “unhooks” all the references to Word in the Windows Registry.

You should then, immediately, use the following command:

"C:\Program Files\Microsoft Office\Office\winword.exe" /regserver

This command causes Word to rewrite all its Registry keys and to reassociate itself with document and template files. Now you can double-click a document file and see if Windows starts Word and opens the document.

Need to associate the file type with program:

In Windows 7:

• Right-click the file,
• Select "Open With" select [Your Program Here]
• Check always use this program.

Alternate method of associating file type with program:

• Click Start
• type cmd in the run dialog box then press ok.
• On the command prompt line type "control panel" without the quotation marks.
• In control panel > folder options > file types > new (button) in the new window click advanced.
• In the file extension dialog box type the file extension to fix, ie: exe.
• In the drop down menu locate and select application > click ok.

Sometimes one of these works when you're having trouble with double clicking on the file in windows explorer:

(xl2007) Office Button|Excel Options|Advanced|General|Uncheck "Ignore other applications that use DDE"

Change the program that opens a type of file - http://windows.microsoft.com/en-US/windows-vista/Change-the-program-that-opens-a-type-of-file

Fix File Association Error When Launching Windows Explorer in Win7 - http://www.winhelponline.com/blog/fix-file-association-error-explorer-in-windows-7/

How to Set Defaults Successfully http://www.worldstart.com/how-to-set-defaults-successfully/print/

Win7 Set Default and Use Open With & Always Open With Settings in Pictures- http://notebooks.com/2011/02/08/how-to-set-default-programs-and-use-open-with-and-always-open-with-settings/

RestoreEXE File Association in Windows 7/Vista After Incorrectly Associating It With Another Program -http://www.winhelponline.com/blog/restore-exe-file-asso-windows-7-vista-incorrectly-associated/

How To Change & Fix Broken File Type Associations In Windows 7 - http://www.makeuseof.com/tag/change-fix-broken-file-type-associations-windows-7/

doubleclicking an individual excel 2010 file won't open it, can only open from the dropdown menu when office app is open-http://answers.microsoft.com/thread/2184f1b7-c13a-49a9-b1ed-f6a523d698cc (You shouldn’t have to do this, but if nothing else works give it a try)

Do you have file extensions displayed? Did you receive the file from a trusted source? From the fact that Windows is trying to open the file using an application called DOCX, I suspect that the true filename may be <filename>.docx.exe. If so, this could be a very dangerous executable. Of course, it could just be someone's blunder, but this is a standard technique used to lull users into running malware (and just one reason we always advise users to have file extensions displayed.