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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169 additional answers

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  1. Anonymous
    2013-09-13T02:41:23+00:00

    To fix this error uninstall Office update

    Microsoft Office Update 14.0.4763.1000

    Turn off Microsoft Office updates:-

    Start -> type "Windows Update" in the search box, press ENTER

    Click "Change Settings" in the left-hand column

    Under the "Microsoft Update" heading, uncheck the "Give me updates for Microsoft products and check for new optional Microsoft software when I update Windows" option.

    I was doing this but found out how to get the word document icon back.

    What does unchecking the "Give me updates for Microsoft products and check for new optional Microsoft software when I update Windows" option do?

    How do I get it it back? The box to check it is gone now.

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  2. Anonymous
    2013-09-13T03:04:49+00:00

    Just like paulmcquillan stated, I tried the Right-click on some of the orange icons to "Open with" and not seeing winwordc, chose "always use" Virtualization handler & everyone's back to normal. Could also repair Excel & PPS. Thank you! Today is my day off and I've spent ALL of it trying to fix this!

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  3. Anonymous
    2013-09-13T04:29:13+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.

    That works perfectly. That will now allow you to download any word document from the internet without requiring an Office 2010 product key. But, there is one more step before the documents you already have saved to your computer will not be orange anymore. All you have to do is restart your computer!

    Great answer. You helped me a lot. Thank you!

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  4. Anonymous
    2013-09-13T04:45:36+00:00

    Could you please explain how you switch everything to MO CVH, I opened the documents with "open with" and then CVH and they open flawlessly  but they continue to be orange, thanks for your help

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