Microsoft Works Suite 2006 reoccuring problem ?

First, it apparently is not a Dell hardware problem since other programs run OK.  The problem appears to be with the WorksSuite.  When you uninstalled the entire WorksSuite, did you restart the PC before reinstalling? or did you just uninstall then reinstall?  If you did not restart the PC before reinstalling, the problem(s) can still occur.  WorksSuite's in most cases are very stable and do not have problems.  Since you have an OEM copy of WorksSuite you are limited to what support the OEM vendor (in this case Dell) will provide for support (If you had bought an HP or a Gateway or whatever then that vendor is responsible for OEM software support).

 

Have you added any other software to the PC? Have you tried any other troubleshooting such as temporarily disabling the antivirus software to see if some "add on" or other program is causing the problems?  What other programs are running when this happens? 

 

In the interim, until you can get the WorkSuite issues resolved there is a free download from Open Org of the Open Office suite of programs that are MS Office compatible and it has a very good wordprocessor program which is comparable to MS Word (and will save programs in the MS Word "doc" format). Click Me

 

The reference to the older PC working fine has no bearing on this issue since it's a software issue.

 

EDIT/ADDED: I just looked at your PC profile again and notice it has XP Media Center so I assume this is not a "new" PC so you probably do not have any free software support available from Dell (you may still have hardware warranty but not software support). Has the MSWord problems always happend from the time the PC was new or is it something that has started happening? If you cannot get the WorksSuite problems resolved, I'd take my "losses" and go with a better software product such as the Microsoft Home and Student's edition of MS Office and a separate Encyclopedia program, etc.  These will give you the full feature versions.

Hi Fireberd,

       I want to thank you for your reply to my ?'s reguarding the problem's with M/S Works Suite 2006 !  I cant say definitly that I restarted my PC after uninstalling the M/S Work and re-installing the suite ,however as a rule I know you should reboot your PC between installations.  Now if I uninstall and reinstall again what will happen to the several updates from Microsoft Update that are on my system already for the Works Suite ,in fact there may even be more then that pertaining to the Works Suite ?   I have other probems on the PC ,the Windows Media Center is missing the DRM folder and the pre-installed music videos in Windows Media Player give me a error message when I try to play them.  I ended up deleteing them all ,hoping if I download any music I purchase online it wil re-create the DRM folder ?  I have WMP ver10 on my system and now I've read that there was a download I should have installed B/4 upgrading to ver10 that would have protected the DRM lic. on the system ?  Also it appears all of my snapins are missing in my MMC Console ?   I have a neighbor who is a wiz at PC's works for logitech as a C++ programmer ,in fact he heads up teams that write device drivers for wireless systems . He said he would come over and take a look ,however he s always very busy have'nt been able to get him over here yet ! I was hoping there is a hotfix for the Works problem ,I really hate to go thru the uninstall and reinstall process again ,I do not really use the Suite that often ,however as my kids move up in school they have more need for the applications in MS Works ! I just use Word Pad when I need to type a document.   Thanks agian for your reply to my post ,its greatly appreciated ! Honestly I may have to face the fact hat a complete re-install of my O/S once again may have to be peformed ! :-(

                                                                  Take Care Nick AKA Gumba

 

P.S. Odd thing about he Music Video's ,one of them by Alanis Morissette is listed in the Media Center under MY Video's and it play's ,and its the only one I left in WMP ,however it still wont play in WMP  ?

Wow! with all those problems I would say the Operating System is corrupt and may be the cause of not just the WorksSuite programs but the other applications not working correctly.  I don't like to just "reinstall" but that MAY be the best option, either a complete reinstall back to the original power up condition using the Dell restore partition on the PC (usually CTRL/F11 at boot up) or a manual install.  There is also an XP "Repair" option, which is similar to reinstalling XP from the CD except you select the Repair rather than the reinstall.  The Repair option will not delete your user data, songs, etc but it would still be a good idea to back them up to either an external hard drive or to data CD or DVD's (you should be doing periodic backups anyway - not in case you ever need them but for WHEN you need them).

    The Dell restore partition is not a option for me ,when I first recieved my PC new I set an administrator password ,I had written the password down and then either forgot the location or it was inadvertantly discarded by my wife that throws everything away ,I've lost a couple of remote controls to her not paying attension to what she is throwing away when she is in a cleaning frenzie. I scared to death to leave my Rolex watch laying around, once I had to retrieve all of her jewelry from the garbage ,including her wedding ring ,and a 4 Ct. Dia tennis braclet I bought her for a anniversary ! ! When I re-installed I left the administrator password blank.   Anyway after a re-format, repartition and fresh install of O/S folowing Dells directions ,it seemed like I ended up with a bad install,also I have a partition on my H.D. thats aprx 5G.B.+ ,its empty and I would like to allocated that partiton to my C drive in which WindowXP resides .  However Iam not messing with the system anymore untill I get some input from my friend who definitly knows his stuff ,with my old PC running Windows Me, I had somehow lost the scheme I had come to like alot ,I mean the options to set up the scheme again where completly gone ,unless I wanted a simular one in a weird punkin color .  He was able to go deep enough into the O/S and using the punkin scheme as a guidline recreate the scheme I liked he set button sizes ,color and a dozen or more settings and recreated the scheme I wanted and then saved it as my favorite scheme !  I had a frist attempt re-install that I know went bad ,the H.D. was not copying all of the needed information off the OEM ver of Windows XP SP2 MCE 2005  w/Update Rollup 2 DVD, I then once aging followed Dells instuctions on reformatting and creating the partition and installing the O/S again ! The second attempt was better ,however still not a full install ?   Iam sure I will get it all set up properly in time . For now the main fetures I use my ATI TV Wonder ,my ISP and some other applications I use the most are all running fine(not including Works Suite 2006) the repair option sounds interesting how does one use that option and is it non distructive leaving your settings and files in place . I have run the start/cmd,  sfc /scannow more then once ! I have Dells 4 year in home warranty ,however it only covers hardware , I do have a externial H.D 320 G.B. for backing up my current configuration except the only backup software I have to use is the WinXP back up utility ,I performed a complete back up, however for the life of me I can not figure out how to open it up to explore and see if I can remove certain folders or files and install the to my drive C ,for instance th DRM folder ?  I was told I need a bettter back up software app one mentioned was Acronis (Spell check) !   I want to thank your for your input as always the more input the better and I appreciate your time for replying !

                                                                     Thank You ,Nick the Gumba

 

 

 

"Character isn’t inherited. One builds it daily by the way one thinks and acts, thought by thought, action by action. If one lets fear or hate or anger take possession of the mind, they become self-forged chains."

-- Helen Douglas

 

XPS400 2.8Gig 820 D Dual Core

O/S WinXP Media Center Edition 2005
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Samsung Hard Drive 250G.B. 7200RPM
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Logitech G15 Keyboard
DVD-/+RW & DVD-ROM
Pertelian X2040 ForeSight Systems LCD information Display
Dell 944 AIO Printer
EASYWATCH LCD System Temp Monitor /Fan Controller

Yes, let your friend examine it and see what his recommendations are.  If he too thinks the reinstall is the best option (and you will be amazed how well it works after a correct reinstall) go for it.  But, backup all your user data first as it will be lost when you reformat the C (hard) drive - and that needs to be done for the "clean" reinstall.  Also, for reference the correct install sequence is (1) Install Windows (2) Install Intel Chipset Drivers (3) Install device drivers such as the sound, video, etc (4) Download and install any Windows XP updates (4) Install peripherals (e.g. Printers - and physically disconnect any peripherals BEFORE doing the reinstall and do not physically connect the units until the installation program tells you for the device).

 

HERE is the Dell downloads for the XPS400 and Windows XP.  If there are updated drivers from what you have, download them and burn them to a CD so you will have them when (if) you do the reinstall.