Microsoft .mdi files won't open!

[Soldat]

I have MS Office Pro installed with Vista. I have documents in the mdi format that refuse to open. The documents open fine on at least two other computers, both running the same software and operating system.

I installed the Document Imaging software and restarted the computer. It immediately marked all files with the .mdi extension as Microsoft Office documents. But when I try to open them, Office starts up and then goes to a "Convert Document" window with a lot of garbled text. I tried every option and it opens the document into hundreds of pages of garbage.

I also tried a "drag and drop" of the document into Office OneNote, but it doesn't open there either. Any other suggestions?

[Bency]

Go to Control Panel, select “Uninstall a program” link under Programs section.”
High Microsoft Office 2007 (it may show Ultimate, Enterprise, Professional, Small Business, Home and Student, etc).
Click on “Change” located on the navigation link near the top of the window.
Select “Add or Remove Features”, then click “Continue”.
Expand “Office Tools” section.
Click on the drop down list for “Microsoft Office Document Imaging” and select “Run all from My Computer”.
Click “Continue”.
Click “Close” when installation done.


A new virtual printer “Microsoft Office Document Imaging Writer” is created and allows you to print to MDI format (a TIFF variant). And from now onwards you should be able to open any MDI files by simply double click on them. If you still can’t, try to restart your computer.

[Soldat]

Go to Control Panel, select “Uninstall a program” link under Programs section.”
High Microsoft Office 2007 (it may show Ultimate, Enterprise, Professional, Small Business, Home and Student, etc).
Click on “Change” located on the navigation link near the top of the window.
Select “Add or Remove Features”, then click “Continue”.
Expand “Office Tools” section.
Click on the drop down list for “Microsoft Office Document Imaging” and select “Run all from My Computer”.
Click “Continue”.
Click “Close” when installation done.


A new virtual printer “Microsoft Office Document Imaging Writer” is created and allows you to print to MDI format (a TIFF variant). And from now onwards you should be able to open any MDI files by simply double click on them. If you still can’t, try to restart your computer.

Thanks for your response, but you missed my point. I've already installed all the software, per those instructions. My files ending in ".mdi" werent associated with any program, so I knew enough to install the image writer tool. I went through the steps and then restarted my computer. It immediately associated all .mdi files with Microsoft Word. However, they won't open with Word or any other Office 2007 program. It starts to open Word and then goes to a "convert file" box that results in only gibberish.

I would normally just reinstall the entire Office suite, but I'm moving and won't have access to the disk for at least another month.

Anyone else have an idea?

[Expertz]

See similar threads on how to open .mdi files:
http://forums.techarena.in/ms-office-support/55506.htm

http://forums.techarena.in/ms-office-support/817425.htm

Or you can also convert the .mdi file: how do i convert .mdi

[Soldat]

OK, here's where my problem was. After installing Document Image Writer, the files were automatically associated with Microsoft Word. They need to be associated with Document Image Writer. I can open Document Image Writer by going to the Start > Microsoft Office > Microsoft Tools > and clicking it, and then opening the document from within Image Writer.

But how do I associate all mdi files so they start Image Writer? I've looked everywhere for the executable to link an association, but I can't find it.

[Zachary]

See File association fixes for Windows Vista

[markmagruder]

Bency is the bomb! thanks! your explanation was perfect and it fixed my problem immediately (even for XP with Office Ultimate) .

Mark