MS Word Won't Open Except As Administrator - Microsoft Office 365
Desktop Machine
AMD Processor
Microsoft Windows 7 Ultimate SP1
Microsoft Office 365
Avast Anti-Virus
MalwareBytes
BACKGROUND
This last week, I disabled all anti-virus software.
Then, I uninstalled Office completely using the Microsoft Tool:
Now, I have reinstalled Office 365 from my account page at:
I have NOT re-enabled any anti-virus.
Checking SERVICES, I do not see anything out of the ordinary.
Checking TASK MANAGER, I do not see anything out of the ordinary.
PROBLEM
After the fresh install of Office 365, when I double click on either the Excel or the Word ICON on my desktop, the hourglass icon appears for an instant, but the program never opens. Also, when I select Excel or Word from the "START MENU > ALL PROGRAMS", neither program starts.
NOTE however, when I right click the program's icon and select "RUN AS ADMINISTRATOR", both programs start normally.
I rebooted into "SAFE MODE" and tried the same steps, open normally and as administrator, but this time, neither one worked. An error message both times popped up in a window that said,
After rebooting into normal mode, I tried the "QUICK REPAIR" option, but that did not fix the problem.
QUESTION
What is causing this problem, and how do I fix it?
AMD Processor
Microsoft Windows 7 Ultimate SP1
Microsoft Office 365
Avast Anti-Virus
MalwareBytes
BACKGROUND
This last week, I disabled all anti-virus software.
Then, I uninstalled Office completely using the Microsoft Tool:
o15-ctrremove.diagcab
support.office.com/en-us/a
Now, I have reinstalled Office 365 from my account page at:
account.microsoft.com/serv
I have NOT re-enabled any anti-virus.
Checking SERVICES, I do not see anything out of the ordinary.
Checking TASK MANAGER, I do not see anything out of the ordinary.
PROBLEM
After the fresh install of Office 365, when I double click on either the Excel or the Word ICON on my desktop, the hourglass icon appears for an instant, but the program never opens. Also, when I select Excel or Word from the "START MENU > ALL PROGRAMS", neither program starts.
NOTE however, when I right click the program's icon and select "RUN AS ADMINISTRATOR", both programs start normally.
I rebooted into "SAFE MODE" and tried the same steps, open normally and as administrator, but this time, neither one worked. An error message both times popped up in a window that said,
Office
Something went wrong
We couldn't start your program. Please try starting it again.
If it won't start, try repairing office from 'Programs and Features' in the Control Panel.
Something went wrong
We couldn't start your program. Please try starting it again.
If it won't start, try repairing office from 'Programs and Features' in the Control Panel.
After rebooting into normal mode, I tried the "QUICK REPAIR" option, but that did not fix the problem.
support.office.com/en-us/a
QUESTION
What is causing this problem, and how do I fix it?
Jackie Man
Uninstall antivirus / internet security software using their removal tools before you reinstall office 365.
ASKER CERTIFIED SOLUTION
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ASKER
Thank you, those are some very helpful suggestions. Maybe I need to actually UNINSTALL antivirus rather than simply DISABLE. I will try that. Otherwise, I will try the DISM check and New User options first. If those don't fix it, then I may just keep an image (and hard drive) of this Windows 7 system in case I ever want to run programs not compatible with Windows 10+. And start an install of Windows 10 on a new hard drive.
After trying your suggestions, I will report back, and either pose more related questions, look at any other expert comments, or close this Question.
After trying your suggestions, I will report back, and either pose more related questions, look at any other expert comments, or close this Question.
I find it hard to believe that an antivirus program would cause this, so I will be interested in hearing your test results.
ASKER
Rather than go into all the details, I will only say that, basically, I was not able to resolve the problem.
I've restored my Windows 7 system to its original state where I can run Office programs only when in Admin mode.
Sorry for the anticlimactic ending. If I ever have more time, I'll return to this, but can't right now.
Thanks for all your input and interest in this problem.
I've restored my Windows 7 system to its original state where I can run Office programs only when in Admin mode.
Sorry for the anticlimactic ending. If I ever have more time, I'll return to this, but can't right now.
Thanks for all your input and interest in this problem.
Thanks Jerry