My saved documents are no longer the W icons but orange icons that I can't open. Please help.

Anonymous
2013-09-11T14:30:26+00:00

My saved word documents no longer have the W icon but rather an orange icon that I can't open.  Spent 10 mins phoning Microsoft at great expense.  No answer Any help?

Microsoft 365 and Office | Word | For home | Windows

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Anonymous
2013-09-12T10:58:51+00:00

Please try to uninstall Microsoft office 2010 from program list in Programs and features. It will appear there with most recent date of installation. After uninstall of that application, Microsoft office 2010 Starter should work as before the update.

*This will not uninstall your office starter

Detailed steps:

  1. Click Start, then click Uninstall program if you cannot see it click “Programs and features”
  2. Click Control Panel
  3. Click “Uninstall program” if you do not see it click “Programs and features”
  4. On the program list locate “Microsoft office 2010” not “Microsoft office 2010 Starter”
  5. Right click Microsoft office 2010 and click on uninstall option
  6. When uninstall finishes restart windows

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  1. Anonymous
    2013-09-18T05:15:04+00:00

    I only have Microsoft Office Starter 2010-English and Microsoft Office click to Run 2010. When I try to uninstall Microsoft Office Click to Run it shows that I would also uninstall Microsoft Office Starter 2010 so I did not do it. My word docs are in an orange color and when I try to open the word doc I get the prompt to purchase 2010. I have used the starter for 3 years so why now? Can you help me fix this issue? Thanks.

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  2. Anonymous
    2013-09-18T04:28:28+00:00

    Suzanne,

    Thank you very kindly,

    I thought I had tried all the options, But there it was sitting right in front of me as one of the selections to choose from. 

    Once I had redirected the excel files to open with the Microsoft Application Virtualization DDE launcher my excel files once again open just fine.

    Respectfully,

    Paul

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  3. Anonymous
    2013-09-18T03:40:22+00:00

    Thanks Antonio.  I chose the default opener of " Microsoft Client Virtualization Handler" which turned my orange icons back to normal.  And just to make sure those nasty little buggers don't pop back up.  I uninstalled Office 2010 (which imposed itself on my life without my consent).  I was careful not to uninstall "Starter".  Now my Explorer and all Word docs work great again.  I also changed my Update setting to "ask" me first.   Don't have any Excel programs on my home computer to test.  Thanks to everyone and their invaluable input.  All is well here!!!  :)  You are all amazing.

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  4. Suzanne S Barnhill 279.1K Reputation points MVP Volunteer Moderator
    2013-09-17T20:35:21+00:00

    Thanks, Jeeped. Although many Word Starter users seem to be having success with the procedure outlined by AntonioMajerxyz, that seems confusing and risky to me.

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