Solved Word 2003 DOC File Will Not Open Using File Explorer

Found the answer!!!!! ​

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After reinstalling Office 2003 on my Windows 11 Dell laptop I could not open a .doc or .docx file using File Explorer. The desktop icon for Word had the Administrator Mode symbol embedded in the icon and that was the problem. SO after weeks of searching I finally found the cure. This is the post by Tiger Sagar Monday, February 8, 2016 1:26 PM:

If you have admin rights on the machine then follow the below steps

1.) Search in programs for the program (Example, Microsoft Word, powerpoint, outlook etc)

2.) Right click on it and open properties

3.) go to "compatibility" tab and select option "Run this program as an administrator".

If the option is not enabled. Then click on button "Change settings for all users" (It might ask for admin authentication), and then option will be enabled.

URL: MS Office run as administrator.

I'm pretty sure Office 2003 doesn't support docx without the compatibility pack being installed.

z3r010 said:

I'm pretty sure Office 2003 doesn't support docx without the compatibility pack being installed.

Click to expand...

u may be right, I erred.

z3r010 said:

I'm pretty sure Office 2003 doesn't support docx without the compatibility pack being installed.

Click to expand...

You're right, it was the format change beginning in Office 2007. I just recently did an Office 2000 install on an old Win10 computer and used the pack. It applies to Office 2000, Office 2002/XP and Office 2003. The next change was Office 2010 being offered as either 32-bit or 64-bit.