"G:\purpose.doc is not a valid win32 application" whats the deal with this?

newbie~wan · May 7th, 2002, 12:52 AM

I made this paper named "purpose.doc" and saved it MS Word. Whenever I try to open the file from win explorer (which has associated it with ms word), I get the message "not a valid win32 application".

However, if I open word, and then direct it to the document, it opens just fine. What is going on here? There have been a number of flaky things like this going on lately......

Inanis · May 7th, 2002, 01:02 AM

Interesting.

I would suspect that the File Association for ".DOC" files is pointed to some non application file, or just screwed up.

Try reinstalling Word.

jkrohn · May 8th, 2002, 07:10 AM

Yeah sounds like the MIME actions for the files type got all messed up

I would suggest either editing them if you know how, or if you can just reinstall office. It should fix them hopeully.

Also can you open any other files asociated with word by double clicking them?

Jkrohn

muno · May 8th, 2002, 07:29 AM

Or, you can try to use the 'open with...' function, then choose program and select microsoft word, it could fix the problems in mime.
-M

Dax_Brandy · May 8th, 2002, 10:04 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Inanis
Interesting.

I would suspect that the File Association for ".DOC" files is pointed to some non application file, or just screwed up.

Try reinstalling Word.

I agree. the program used to open your *.doc is not in anyway MSWORD. try to right click the file and select "open with...", then select MSWORD. note: don't forget to check the checkbox w/c says "always use this program to open the file....".

I don't know if TweakUI can solve your problem. There's the repair tab for reparing icons, file system and of course file association.

Regards,
dax

dunbar · May 8th, 2002, 11:35 AM

Does the document have any macros in it? I once saw a similar message when trying to load an Excel workbook; the workbook had an embedded or autoloaded macro, stored in a separate file which got moved and later could not be found.

The error message did not say anything about the Macro, the error message blamed the workbook file. Just a thought. Remember the old joke about the lost helicopter pilot who asked where he was? "You are in a helicopter" was Microsofts answer. Your error message might mean that the whole document "G:\purpose.doc" is not wholly valid because it is incomplete.
Also, can you recover the backups? Is this a fast saved file?

Sigh... M$ - so many ways to get you to buy the newer stuff.

dunbar · May 8th, 2002, 12:08 PM

I clicked submit reply, but I see this didn't get through 10 minutes ago....

SNIP - now it goes through

newbie~wan · May 9th, 2002, 11:10 PM

It works fine whenever I right click and say "open with Ms word". I clicked "always use this program to opne this file". Now, when the file is viewed in windows explorer, rather than having the "W" for Ms word next to it, it has the window picture next to it, meaning windows doesnt know which program to associate with this file.

Strange........
No big deal, just strange......