WD: "Word Cannot Open the Document" with No Extension

 Last reviewed: February 5, 1998
Article ID: Q139938
The information in this article applies to:
  • Microsoft Word for Windows 95, version 7.0, 7.0a
  • Microsoft Word 97 for Windows

SYMPTOMS

You get the following error message when you double-click a file that does not have an extension and select Word to open the document. 

   Word cannot open the document (<path>\<filename>)
When you choose OK, Word opens a new document.

STATUS

Microsoft is researching this problem and will post new information here in the Microsoft Knowledge Base as it becomes available.

WORKAROUND

Use one of the following workarounds:

Method 1: Start Word, then open the document.

Method 2: Give the file an extension before you double-click it to open it.

KBCategory: kbusage kberrmsg
KBSubcategory:
Additional query words: 7.0 7.0a word95 word7 file open cannot
can not errmsg winword word97
Version : 7.0 7.0a 97
Platform : WINDOWS

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Last reviewed: February 5, 1998
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