Can't open Word File because of end tag/start tag mismatch error...need XML help!

Anonymous
2010-06-09T00:42:38+00:00

I get the following message when i try to open a word document that i desperately need

  The name in the end tag of the element must match the element type in the start tag

Location: Part: word/document.xml, Line: 2, Column: 96760

I know how to "unzip" the docx files and get to the main document.xml file, but i know nothing about xml programming. Any suggestions? i got an xml editor and found that there are 6 mismatch errors, but i don't know how to fix them. I also don't know how to rezip al the files back into a docx format. I would love any help. Thanks.

Microsoft 365 and Office | Word | For home | Windows

Locked Question. This question was migrated from the Microsoft Support Community. You can vote on whether it's helpful, but you can't add comments or replies or follow the question.

0 comments
Answer accepted by question author
Anonymous
2011-04-25T16:26:25+00:00

You're welcome Catherine.

Going forward if you or anyone else comes across this issue again, we have a FixIt solution created that should address this problem.  You can go to the following KB article and it should give you the details about how you can correct these documents.

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/2528942

Brandon

Was this answer helpful?

5 people found this answer helpful.
0 comments

528 additional answers

Sort by: Most helpful
Most helpful Newest Oldest
  1. Anonymous
    2011-05-10T18:14:16+00:00

    There are known problems with Word 2007/2010 and the Equation Editor.

    Some things to do:

    • BACKUP then BACKUP SOME MORE!
    • Save sequentially named versions of the document.
    • Get the Rebuilder template mentioned above from here and learn to use it. It will fix most oMath errors.

    Some things not to do:

    • Work from email or a memory stick. If you want to work on a copy retained on a memory stick, copy it to the hard drive and work on it fromthere. Copy a final draft back to the memory stick only when you're sure it is not corrupt. Same goes for emailed attachments.
    • Work for long periods of time without closing Word and reopening your document to confirm its integrity

    If this is happening regularly, you should get the Rebuilder template from here and learn to use it. It will fix most oMath errors. The process is pretty straight-forward and with the ability to perform self-repairs, you should save a lot of time. I do not know your operating system, but I should mention that the Rebuilder does have some problems with Windows XP.

    1. Download the Rebuilder.dotm Microsoft Office Word Macro-Enabled Template (.dotm) and open it.
    2. Click Options button on the Security warning and select Enable this content. 

    ![](http://xfprpw.blu.livefilestore.com/y1pwRE3ELG_o830OxtH-mAomTC4zwDe5r1q04IDEueKSrBGZv6dPJmxyRbzj8UITDryBZD4RUsVgnLb80KzvAsMiLuz7lJXWLYi/Rebuilder_Security_Warning.PNG?psid=1) 3. Click the Broken Documents tab at the far right of the ribbon.

    ![](http://xfprpw.blu.livefilestore.com/y1paXB9ScOFIzGIk3ET8QxaiIeijJh-6DE_JENW49DwUzT1XFXVksMwvKwP74HWXGtXz193fiCMeUIhADHBNd9ZN_IZa8FY2xEr/Rebuilder_Broken_Documents.PNG?psid=1) 4. Click the Rebuild button in the left-hand side and then locate and open your corrupt document.

                         ![](http://xfprpw.blu.livefilestore.com/y1p_zbO6cnAMo2zsd_muwehEZ1m94zD3OamW-yIggDoScDyf8Q5QnzVu6iOrVgV1W38cJa9zBBZnnFAi1M8SmRvZPU4GDC8NJJ0/Rebuilder_Rebuild.png?psid=1)

    That's it. The process will repair your document if possible and create a new document with *(Rebuilt)*appended to the filename. Be patient as it may take a few minutes. If a repair is not possible, you can then post to a public file area and someone here can attempt a manual repair.

    More information on fixing these errors with another solution here.

    Was this answer helpful?

    0 comments
  2. Anonymous
    2011-05-10T17:55:10+00:00

    Thank you so so much.

    Is there any way of stopping that happening again?

    Janet

    Was this answer helpful?

    0 comments
  3. Anonymous
    2011-05-10T17:23:23+00:00

    @JanetThompson_2400,

    I've place a repaired copy of the file here. Click File in the top left corner for download options.

    Was this answer helpful?

    0 comments
  4. Anonymous
    2011-05-10T15:57:10+00:00

    Hi

    I have had a very similar problem and it is a nightmare as this work is extremely important for my final uni grade and is due very soon. The word document I have been working on suddenly won't open and gives the same error message as described in previous posts "Cannot open due to a problem with the contents"

    This is a link to the file:    https://cid-2e0b248257376d01.skydrive.live.com/redir.aspx?resid=2E0B248257376D01!119&authkey=!FZhNrBcl70%24

    If anybody can help me for this I would be forever grateful! I have no knowledge of the XML editing that has been mentioned by some people and I am really stuck.

    Thanks in advance

    Janet

    Was this answer helpful?

    0 comments