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December 8th, 2019 14:00
Getting Windows to point to the correct copy of Word
This certainly is not an XPS specific question, but since the general board is read only ...
My system, like most I suppose, came with some trial version of Office installed. However, I had my own version of Office 2010 and installed that. When I click on the Word icon I created on my desktop, I get Word in Office 2010 just fine and can process documents all I want. If I click on a .doc file, however it opens in the unlicensed version of Word which presumably came with the machine (I can't find where it tells me what version that is). The icon tells me that my copy is installed in "C:\Program Files\Microsoft Office\Office14\WINWORD.EXE" . There is also an Office15 in the Microsoft Office directory, which I would guess is the trial version. If I go to Apps & Features and the screen for designating default apps by file type, the only choices it gives me is Word and Microsoft Store where the Word is the trial version. If I right click on a .doc file and select Open With, there is an option to look in the file system, but if I do that and point to the Winword file above, it still opens in the trial version. 95% of my work is on the same handful of files or on new files, so most of the time I have no problem, but it is really annoying not to be able to click on a file. Suggestions?
RoHe
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45.2K Posts
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December 8th, 2019 14:00
So just uninstall the trial version. That's what I just did with my new Dell PC after I installed my personal copy of Office...
I used the free version of Revo Uninstaller to get rid of it.
speedstep
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December 8th, 2019 14:00
You have to set the file association for Doc files and DOCX files
Same for excel xls and xlsx
Power point PPT and PPTX
On the Start Windows logo Start button menu, select Settings Gear-shaped Settings icon > Apps > Default apps.
Right-click the Start button (or hit the WIN+X hotkey) and choose Settings.
Select Apps from the list.
Choose Default apps on the left.
Scroll down a little and select Choose default apps by file type.
Locate the file extension for which you want to change the default program.
https://www.bing.com/search?q=setting+windows+file+association+windows+10&lvl=1&FORM=PMETIS
Thomas Mercer-Hursh
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December 8th, 2019 14:00
That is exactly what I did. But I still end up in the trial version.
Vic384
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December 8th, 2019 14:00
I think the problem is that your Office 2010 version apps are not showing up because you stated that "...only choices it gives me is Word and Microsoft Store where the Word is the trial version". Try this, in Windows File Explorer right-click on a .doc file and click "Open with" then click on "Choose another app", then click on "More apps", then scroll all the way to the bottom and click on "Look for another app on this PC" and then navigate to "C:\Program Files\Microsoft Office\Office14\WINWORD.EXE". See if that works, if it does you need to do the same for your other Office files.
Thomas Mercer-Hursh
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December 8th, 2019 14:00
I thought of that, but was a little leery of doing so. In fact, when I did uninstall Office 365 and clicked on a .doc file, it had NO default application defined. But, this time I could pick Word and make that the default and I got my copy of 2010. So, problem solved!
RoHe
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December 8th, 2019 14:00
Don't forget to set the app defaults for docx, xls, xlsx etc. on the Choose default apps by file type screen.
I had to manually download a couple of old Office 2010 updates from the Microsoft site before Windows Update found and offered the rest of them to me.
You might want to run the free version of Belarc Advisor which should tell you which/any Office updates are missing.
Vic384
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3.2K Posts
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December 8th, 2019 15:00
I am glad your problem is fixed but sometimes not all apps show up when you go to "Choose default apps by file type". For example, there are only two default choices for opening a .txt file, Notepad and Wordpad. What do you do if you wish to open a .txt file in Notepad++. In that case you may want to try the method I described.
Thomas Mercer-Hursh
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December 8th, 2019 15:00
Like I say, I don't open the files directly very often, so if I miss something, I can just fix it when and if I run into one. I think I am pretty up to date on Office updates. I see it was last updated in July.