Why won't MS Document Imaging open TIF files ?

A Dell laptop running XP SP2 and Office 2003 refuses to open TIF files. I've set the file association for TIF file to MS Office Document Imaging (MODI), but when double clicking TIF file either nothing happens (quick flicker) or get error to the effect that 'only works with applications that are installed'. MODI will open fine on it's own then FILE, OPEN and select TIF works fine. I've removed and re-install MS Office 2003 (full install), but NG. Note that it works fine when logged on with another user local profile. Gut say "corrupt user profile", but just recreated profile to fix another issue and boss wants to know root cause WHY this is happening. Laptop created using Ghost ver 10 (I've seen image problems before and really don't trust Ghost fully). I've never seen this particular issue before and am running out of ideas to fix without creating user profile again. Anyone out there have suggestions ? (registry problem in User Key??)