On Win7 x64, if it matters. I installed Office 2003, then, some time later, Office 2007. Unfortunately, the installation left the association of .doc files set to Word 2003. I have tried using "Open with..." to reassociate the file, then browsing to C:\Program Files (x86)\Microsoft Office\Office12\WINWORD.EXE (which, when double-clicked, opens Word 2007) and selecting it, then clicking OK, which results in Word 2003 opening the file!

Since "Microsoft Office Word" is set as the default opening application when the "Open with" dialog opens, and Word 2003 is also "winword.exe," the incredibly simple-minded dialog refuses to change the location of the executable, and leaves the 2003 version as the default. Right-clicking the "Microsoft Office Word" up in the "Recommended Programs" list to try to access its properties and change the location does nothing.

Am I going to have to uninstall Office 2003, or is there another way to overcome this OS imbecility? Thanks.

Unless you address the registry settings, Word 2003 will simply grab back its associations next time 2003 is opened. See http://www.gmayor.com/Toolbars_in_word_2007.htm which should help you get it sorted. Note that Office updates may screw up your preferences.

__________________
Graham Mayor - MS MVP (Word) (2002-2019)
Visit my web site for more programming tips and ready made processes www.gmayor.com

Thank you for your reply, Graham. I downloaded and ran the provided .reg file to prevent reassociation, but I still have the problem of Word 2003 opening when I double-click a .doc file (or open one from an email, etc.), instead of Word 2007. Is there a particular registry setting I need to change to cause Word 2007 to become the default handler for .doc files?

The registry patch doesn't affect which application has control of the filing system. It only stops the reconfiguration that occurs when Word is run without it.

You now need to associate the DOC format with Word 2007. Repairing 2007 should fix that. If not see http://www.gmayor.com/Document_Not_Found.htm

__________________
Graham Mayor - MS MVP (Word) (2002-2019)
Visit my web site for more programming tips and ready made processes www.gmayor.com