can't read older MS Word files
 

files from the early 1990s are being blocked in Win 7 when trying to open them in MS Word 2003

the damn thing is giving me error msgs saying Registry settings block me from opening files created in an older version of Office (which would be Word)

applies to dozens of files and I have hundreds of them, so...

ideas on this latest hate message from Microsoft??

Try Open Office?

I agree with Ed. try Open Office. It's a free download that can be found here:
OpenOffice.org Downloads


Good luck,
Michael

Open Office is not compatible with all the bells & whistles I need

anyone know about this Registry BS?

Did a quick search on the M website.

Try going here: Information about certain file types that are blocked after you install Office 2003 Service Pack 3 and see if this addresses your issue.

Not sure what bells and whistles would be present in 20 year old files that OO would not support.

Seems to me that you need to open the files so you can save them in a format/version that you can open with your current version of Word?

Thanks! that was it