* Wrong version of MS word opens

The place to post news about genealogy products and services that might be of interest to other Family Historian users.
Post Reply
avatar
Gowermick
Megastar
Posts: 1702
Joined: 13 Oct 2015 07:22
Family Historian: V7
Location: Swansea

Wrong version of MS word opens

Post by Gowermick »

When my wife bought her new PC, it came with a free version of MS word (Office 365), which she doesn’t want, because she already had her own standalone version.

However, she has a problem in that whenever she double clicks an attachment in an e-mail, the wrong version of Word opens, with a popup saying it is unactivayed, and she should activate it before proceeding!

Any idea how I can disable this ‘free’ version?
Mike Loney

Website http://www.loney.tribalpages.com
http://www.mickloney.tribalpages.com
User avatar
Jane
Site Admin
Posts: 8508
Joined: 01 Nov 2002 15:00
Family Historian: V7
Location: Somerset, England
Contact:

Re: Wrong version of MS word opens

Post by Jane »

Have you tried simply uninstalling it from the Programs option?
Jane
My Family History : My Photography "Knowledge is knowing that a tomato is a fruit. Wisdom is not putting it in a fruit salad."
User avatar
ColeValleyGirl
Megastar
Posts: 5465
Joined: 28 Dec 2005 22:02
Family Historian: V7
Location: Cirencester, Gloucestershire
Contact:

Re: Wrong version of MS word opens

Post by ColeValleyGirl »

You might have to uninstall both Office 365 and the standalone program(s) and then reinstall the standalone program(s). MS has two different installation mechanisms for 365 and standalone, and they conflict with each other.
avatar
Gowermick
Megastar
Posts: 1702
Joined: 13 Oct 2015 07:22
Family Historian: V7
Location: Swansea

Re: Wrong version of MS word opens

Post by Gowermick »

Thats what I’m worried about, I’m certain I’ll end up screwing up her version! As far as I know, I can’t even make her version the preferred version to open when double clicking a file.
Does anyone know of a registry hack I could try?
Mike Loney

Website http://www.loney.tribalpages.com
http://www.mickloney.tribalpages.com
User avatar
ColeValleyGirl
Megastar
Posts: 5465
Joined: 28 Dec 2005 22:02
Family Historian: V7
Location: Cirencester, Gloucestershire
Contact:

Re: Wrong version of MS word opens

Post by ColeValleyGirl »

Mike, you do not need to hack the registry. What order were the programmes installed in? I'm guessing O365 first as the PC came with it, the the standalone version.

Uninstall the standalone version (second installed)
Uninstall O365 (first installed)
Reinstall the standalone version (now the only installed version).
avatar
Gowermick
Megastar
Posts: 1702
Joined: 13 Oct 2015 07:22
Family Historian: V7
Location: Swansea

Re: Wrong version of MS word opens

Post by Gowermick »

Helen,
Nice idea, but I can't risk uninstalling anything. I'd never hear the end of it if it got screwed up. My wife will just have to put up with it. I told her a workaround, save the file first, open her version of Word, then open file! She just can't double click :D
Mike Loney

Website http://www.loney.tribalpages.com
http://www.mickloney.tribalpages.com
User avatar
tatewise
Megastar
Posts: 28341
Joined: 25 May 2010 11:00
Family Historian: V7
Location: Torbay, Devon, UK
Contact:

Re: Wrong version of MS word opens

Post by tatewise »

Yes, I agree with Helen. This is a well-known conflict.
Windows will always insist on using the later version, and not the last one installed.

Can't you make a disk image so if all goes awry then you can quickly get back where you started.
I have never had any significant problems uninstalling and reinstalling programs.
Mike Tate ~ researching the Tate and Scott family history ~ tatewise ancestry
User avatar
Valkrider
Megastar
Posts: 1563
Joined: 04 Jun 2012 19:03
Family Historian: V7
Location: Lincolnshire
Contact:

Re: Wrong version of MS word opens

Post by Valkrider »

Mike

Have a look at item #2 on https://www.techrepublic.com/article/ho ... ial-steps/ You may well be able to get shot of it that way.
avatar
Gowermick
Megastar
Posts: 1702
Joined: 13 Oct 2015 07:22
Family Historian: V7
Location: Swansea

Re: Wrong version of MS word opens

Post by Gowermick »

Thanks guys for your suggestions.
But I've come to a decision, which is to and fall back to the standard 'If it ain't broke, don't fix it', and as it ain't broke, only bent, I won't try to fix it. I Have fallen into that trap too many times to count :D
Mike Loney

Website http://www.loney.tribalpages.com
http://www.mickloney.tribalpages.com
User avatar
davidf
Megastar
Posts: 951
Joined: 17 Jan 2009 19:14
Family Historian: V6.2
Location: UK

Re: Wrong version of MS word opens

Post by davidf »

You could always install Libre Office and set it as the default application? ;)
David
Running FH 6.2.7. Under Wine on Linux (Ubuntu 22.04 LTS + LXDE 11)
avatar
Gowermick
Megastar
Posts: 1702
Joined: 13 Oct 2015 07:22
Family Historian: V7
Location: Swansea

Re: Wrong version of MS word opens

Post by Gowermick »

I already use it, but my wife prefers to use Word - go figure :D
Mike Loney

Website http://www.loney.tribalpages.com
http://www.mickloney.tribalpages.com
User avatar
GeneSniper
Superstar
Posts: 381
Joined: 06 Dec 2016 20:40
Family Historian: V7
Location: East Kilbride, Lanarkshire, UK

Re: Wrong version of MS word opens

Post by GeneSniper »

Your wife is a very intelligent woman :lol: :lol:
William

* Illegitimi non carborundum *
avatar
Gowermick
Megastar
Posts: 1702
Joined: 13 Oct 2015 07:22
Family Historian: V7
Location: Swansea

Re: Wrong version of MS word opens

Post by Gowermick »

GeneSniper wrote: 05 Jun 2020 11:07 Your wife is a very intelligent woman :lol: :lol:
That’s why she is always asking me for help with computer problems :D :D
Mike Loney

Website http://www.loney.tribalpages.com
http://www.mickloney.tribalpages.com
User avatar
GeneSniper
Superstar
Posts: 381
Joined: 06 Dec 2016 20:40
Family Historian: V7
Location: East Kilbride, Lanarkshire, UK

Re: Wrong version of MS word opens

Post by GeneSniper »

I rest my case Your Honour. Why have a dog and bark yourself :D
William

* Illegitimi non carborundum *
avatar
victor
Superstar
Posts: 269
Joined: 08 Jan 2004 16:53
Family Historian: V7
Location: Thatcham, Berkshire, England

Re: Wrong version of MS word opens

Post by victor »

Microsoft has changed the name of Office 365 to Microsoft 365

I have no idea if this affects you.

In the past I have been getting the wrong verson of Word but then save it in the right version. I am tryin g to recall what happened but think when I open the wrong version I get a message about this. Sorry I am not much help will have to see if it happens again and I will make a note of it. What I do know is that with the wrong version I am unable to use the auto save (shown in the top left corner). When I save it in the right version the auto save is automatically switched on

Victor
Post Reply