Word document with strange characters

Question

Hello,
For the past 3 days, I've been trying to open my Word files but to no avail.
Once I click on the file, the Word window opens with a small window titled file conversion - file name. Extension
After that:
Choose the encoding to use to make this document readable.
Text encoding:
Windows (default) MS-DOS Other encoding
With a preview of characters that I don’t understand at all.
The document opens with weird characters, accents, dashes, and more.
I've done what I can but nothing, open and recover with Word but still nothing.
I want this document, otherwise it's over for me, no more work
Please help me recover this file and the others.
Thank you

Configuration: Windows XP Internet Explorer 7.0

sriviere · Accepted Answer

What is the extension of your files?

Anonymous user · Answer

The problem comes either from: - The file - Word  If other Word files can open, then it’s the file, if no other documents can open then reinstall Word -- Floxflob.

webamies · Answer

Other files open fine. I even copied the file to analyze it on another computer, but nothing. There is no other technique.

plantamare · Answer

Can you try to open the file that crashes with OpenOffice?

webamies · Answer

I say word so for the extension that I know .doc  and to respond to plantamare I don't have openoffice

sriviere · Answer

Yes, but there are also .DOC files (old Word)  Try opening Word first and then your files instead of clicking on the files first. I know it sounds silly, but sometimes!

sriviere · Answer

One idea: try opening your files with Wordpad (Program/Accessories/Wordpad)

plantamare · Answer

If the file has been poorly saved, it is corrupt, and there's not much you can do; except try another software, WordPad, indeed, but it’s not very powerful (there’s Write in Works or you can download OpenOffice, which is free: so it's not a problem that you don't have it, it is designed to open all Word formats).

sriviere · Answer

Hello,

I did a search on CCM for my own sake, as I've lost a file, which never happens to me since I back things up constantly, and I found the following message from STONGA, dated July 30, 2008, which I’m pasting below.
Maybe you can use this method to find previous correct backups of your currently corrupted files.

---
Hello.

Step 1: In a Windows window, click on 'Tools'; 'Folder Options'; 'View' tab; 'Show hidden files and folders' (9th bullet from the top). This allows you to "see" hidden system folders (administrator rights required).

Step 2: In Winword, go to 'Tools'; 'Options'; 'Default Folder' tab; select the line 'AutoRecover files'; click on 'Modify': Indicate the path of the Word temporary files. Take note of this directory (example: C:\Documents and Settings\XXXXX\Application Data\Microsoft\Word)

Step 3: Go to the directory indicated in step 2 and copy all the *.tmp and *.* files dated today (the day you lost the file or files) to a personal directory (example: c:\toto). These are the temporary documents corresponding to those you have "lost".

Step 4: Change the extensions .tmp and other .??? to .doc so you can reopen them with Winword.

Step 5: Open the renamed files with Word and shout "it works!" as well as "this is great". Don’t forget to return to a "Commentcamarche.net" forum next time in case of issues.

webamies · Answer

Thank you.  thank you

sriviere · Answer

Did you make it out?

tabe · Answer

Yes, please tell me how to open and decode a corrupted Word file  Thank you

derdo · Answer

NO! It doesn't work. Moreover, I copied the files I tried to open to another PC that has no update problems since it is connected all the time, and they don't open there either. One or two files opened, but the others do not.
Note: I want to specify that it is all the files I recovered before the reinstallation that are causing the problem. Otherwise, all the new files I create now open without any issue.

Word document with strange characters

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