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compatibility pack for office 2003

I have office 2003. When trying to download a newer version Word document with extension 'docx' I am told to download a compatibility pack. Having done so I try to download the same document and I get the same message again. Looks pretty useless, in particular as I am not instructed how to make the pack work. Doing something wrong or does Microsoft think we're all rocket scientists?

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I found this on the Microsoft Office Compatibility Pack for Word, Excel, and PowerPoint File Formats web page:

Instructions

To install this download:

  1. Ensure your system is up to date by installing all High-Priority/Required updates on Microsoft Update (required for Microsoft Office XP and 2003 users).
  2. After installing all High-Priority/Required updates with Microsoft Update, download the Compatibility Pack by clicking the Download button above and saving the file to your hard disk.
  3. Double-click the FileFormatConverters.exe program file on your hard disk to start the setup program.
  4. Follow the instructions on the screen to complete the installation.

Step 3 seems to indicate that you need to install the file you downloaded before the compatibility pack will function correctly.

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When I try to download a docx file I am asked to download and install a compatibility pack. I keep downloading it without any result. I have Office 2003.

 

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At the risk of stating the obvious, downloading the Office Compatibility Pack is not sufficient as it is not self-installing. Locate the file (or one of them, it sounds as if you've downloaded a couple) and double-click it to launch the set up process. Follow the installation through to its logical conclusion and reboot if requested by the process,

You should now be able to view/edit DOCX/XLSX, etc files (with some restrictions).

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I keep getting docx attachments with my email. I keep being told to download a compatibility pack. It downloads alright but then does not do anything like opening a docx file.
As this is useless, does anyone know of a non-Microsoft product which would do the job? I have Office 2003.
Tom

 

 

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Thanks. I always keep up to date with my updates. I have installed the fileformatconverters again: nothing happens,

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You have now asked this same question in three different threads this month.  Please stick to one thread.
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I am having the same problem? I have extracted the file but every time I try to open a document created on a later version it keeps prompting me to download the compatibility pack?

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Exactly what do you mean "extracted" the file.  I am concerned there is a miscommunication using technical terms.

If you simply "extracted" an EXE file from a ZIP file you are one step short of what you need to do.  You have to run the extracted compatibility pack installer file on your computer to install the update.
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As computer scientists we are trained to communicate with the dumbest things in the world – computers –
so you’d think we’d be able to communicate quite well with people.
Prof. Doug Fisher

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I downloaded the file it ran, I was asked to accept terms clicked agree and a dialogue box state compatibility pack successfully installed but its not it is not in programs and I still cannot open documents created in 2010 version

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There are known problems with Office 2003's registration/activation and Windows 7 security but TBH, I do not know if that extends to the compatibility pack. My best advise would be right-clicking the download and choosing Run as Administrator. This should give you the elevated privileges you require to perform some installation action that is guarded by Windows 7 UAC and security.

You may also want to temporarily disable any anti-virus you have running. Robust anti-virus programs have cause problems with legitimate installations in the past.

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* Please try a lower page number.

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Last updated May 10, 2024 Views 48,326 Applies to: