(unknown boxes) MIRCOSOFT WORD DOC. ...... WHAT DO I DO...

hey guyz i have this problem

when i formatted my system i removed some important files (word files) and so after i reinstalled... and then put back this files but the word files that are not in folders does not open, when i try to open it, it says d file needs a converter click yes to download it. when i click yes and put in the required office cd, it finishes and then still does not open the document but all i see is alot of boxes. even when i click no it does not still open.

but note d files in folders open but the ones dt are not in folders dont open.

my questions are -

what is causing this?

how can i solve the misery and recover those documents (they are F**K**G important)?

will i ever see those documents again?

could it be virus that infected the files b4 i even copied them?

or could it be bcos the doc was typed in a different version of office ? (but even then why did the documents in folders opened)

what do i do....

cheers

Sorry to hear of your problem. A couple of suggestions:
1) Perhaps when you reinstalled Office (which I assume you did because you say you formatted your system) you didn't select all the filters and converters that you had before. You could try putting in the Office CD without trying to open a document and select to modify your installation. Then under the options for Word select everything to be 'run from my computer'
2) If your documents were produced in a later version of Office/Word to the one you have installed then the files will not be backward-compatible with your version and probably will not open. Try opening them on another machine with the lastest version of Office you have. If they open there, you can save them again in a suitable format (e.g. Windows 2000/95 or even RTF) that your own copy of Office will be able to open

the bishop i have done all ur suggestions thanks alot. but it still does not open. someone said the documents are corrupted cos i realized dt its only the ones dt are not in folders that do not open all the others in folder open. when i removed office 2003 and put 2000 the ones in folders still opened.

I also tried opening them in another system a brand new p4 acer desktop and it did not open. it looks as if b4 i even copied the files they had problem cos my customers systems where seriously infected by virus.....

what else do u think i could do to see those damn files....

when i removed office 2003 and put 2000

It seems you are trying to open the file in the earlier version of Office. Can you try to open the file in Office 2003 itself. Hope it may works for you. Earlier versions wont support the latest version files. Better you open the file (from original backup) in Office 2003]

An alternative approach could be to get a linux live cd (ubuntu, mepis, knoppix etc) that contains open office and try to open them from open office. As open office has many built in converters it stand a fair chance of opening the files.

If it can't then this suggests they are corrupted.

i have ubuntu... i will use the open office...

ranger love ur point..............