Crashes in Word in Office Basic Edition 2003 under Windows XP

I am getting frequent crashes in Word.

My computer is a Dell Dimension 4600 2.99 GHz and 512 RAM. I bought it in
the UK in March 2004. I run Windows XP Home Edition 2002 SP2 and Office Basic
Edition 2003. I use Norton 360 for virus protection. Adapter Type: NVIDIA
GeForce FX 5200

On 6th October I downloaded and installed Office 2003 Service Pack 3 and an
update that allowed my system to read Word 2007 files. After that, though not
necessarily as a consequence, the computer began to crash while running Word.
It displays the error message: “Microsoft Word has encountered a problem and
needs to close. We are sorry for the inconvenience.” It tends to happen more
often when I am using a Master Document and when I try to save or to open a
new Master Document.

I have tried a number of solutions:

I ran Norton 360’s Comprehensive Check and it found no virus.

I used the Microsoft Malicious Software Removal Tool and it found and
removed some viruses but that did not solve the problem.

I used Office “Detect and Repair” from “Add or Remove Programs” and was told
that Office had been successfully repaired.

I tried “Last Good Known Configuration” and found that I had lost the use of
the keyboard. I got it back.

I tried to use “System Restore” but it failed to work.

I don’t know if the problem is with Office or with Windows. Is there some
way to get Windows to check its own configuation?

I cannot uninstall and then reinstall Office 2003 from the CDs because I
cannot find the original CDs if they even came with the computer. Would
upgrading to Office 2007 fix the problem?

Would upgrading to Windows Vista fix the problem?

I would be very grateful for some advice.

CharlesPalliser

You might try working through the troubleshooting steps at
http://word.mvps.org/FAQs/AppErrors/...peningWord.htm .

CharlesPalliser wrote:

> I am getting frequent crashes in Word.
>
> My computer is a Dell Dimension 4600 2.99 GHz and 512 RAM. I bought it in
> the UK in March 2004. I run Windows XP Home Edition 2002 SP2 and Office Basic
> Edition 2003. I use Norton 360 for virus protection. Adapter Type: NVIDIA
> GeForce FX 5200
>
> On 6th October I downloaded and installed Office 2003 Service Pack 3 and an
> update that allowed my system to read Word 2007 files. After that, though not
> necessarily as a consequence, the computer began to crash while running Word.
> It displays the error message: “Microsoft Word has encountered a problem and
> needs to close. We are sorry for the inconvenience.” It tends to happen more
> often when I am using a Master Document and when I try to save or to open a
> new Master Document.
>
> I have tried a number of solutions:
>
> I ran Norton 360’s Comprehensive Check and it found no virus.
>
> I used the Microsoft Malicious Software Removal Tool and it found and
> removed some viruses but that did not solve the problem.
>
> I used Office “Detect and Repair” from “Add or Remove Programs” and was told
> that Office had been successfully repaired.
>
> I tried “Last Good Known Configuration” and found that I had lost the use of
> the keyboard. I got it back.
>
> I tried to use “System Restore” but it failed to work.
>
> I don’t know if the problem is with Office or with Windows. Is there some
> way to get Windows to check its own configuation?
>
> I cannot uninstall and then reinstall Office 2003 from the CDs because I
> cannot find the original CDs if they even came with the computer. Would
> upgrading to Office 2007 fix the problem?
>
> Would upgrading to Windows Vista fix the problem?
>
> I would be very grateful for some advice.
>
> CharlesPalliser
>