No have not just copied them over to the other computer. I realize that an installation mut happen before the system would know what to do. Thank you though! Paul =)

Try running an Office app (e.g. Word) in safe mode (i.e. hold the CTRL key down, and then click the app's icon) if it works correctly in safe mode, the problem points to an addin conflict. In that case, I suggest you check what addins Office says are installed and disable all non-MS ones. If Office works correctly then, try re-enabling the addins, one at a time, till you find the culprit. For more info, see: https://support.office.com/en-aus/ar...3-528af4f7ac72

__________________
Cheers,
Paul Edstein
[Fmr MS MVP - Word]

Possible problem is that you must install Compatibility Pack or upgrade your Win XP to the Windows 7 or 8 or 10.

As has already been discussed, the OP has Compatibility Pack installed. Upgrading to a later Windows version won't address the underlying problem, which has nothing to do with their merits vs Win XP.

__________________
Cheers,
Paul Edstein
[Fmr MS MVP - Word]

Thanks Paul Edstein! What Paul has said is correct in totality. Bu thanks to those who are trying to help me!!
Paul, I have done as you suggested and ran Word 2003 'safe mode with Control Key' no success. I also restarted the computer in safe mode and tried it with and without Control key with no success. I further tried a cold boot with no success.
I suspect like you that some program is conflicting with Word 2003 converting .docx files.
It is a Gateway 4012GZ 15" Laptop, 2GB RAM, 1.5GHz. WIn XP Pro SP3, Office 2003 SP2.
So how do I go about eliminating problematic conflicting problems??
Paul

To eliminate problems requires knowing what other apps you have installed. Anything from high-end provides like Microsoft and Adobe should be OK, as should your AV software (though that sometimes interferes with software installation). OTOH, Bluetooth drivers, if your system has them, are a known source of conflicts with MS Office.

__________________
Cheers,
Paul Edstein
[Fmr MS MVP - Word]

Cold boot results:
Diagnostic startup
Services =
DCOM server process launcher
Remote Procedure Launcher
Remote Proceudre CAll
------------------------------
No sys.in files loaded
No win.in files loaded
-------------------------------

Word 2003 has the ability to save as .docx 2007, but it does not work; "There was a problem opening the file".
Paul

That suggests you're running Windows in Safe mode. The failure to open the docx file even in that mode suggests a fairly fundamental problem with either your Office installation and/or the Compatibility Pack, or with Windows itself. Sad to say, running all your cleaner programs may have contributed to this state of affairs. You may now be at the point where the only sure way of rectifying the problem is to reinstall Windows & all your apps from scratch.

__________________
Cheers,
Paul Edstein
[Fmr MS MVP - Word]

Yes, I was running WIn Xp PRO in safe mode and Word 2003 control' safe mode...among other tries...
No apps, No custom templetes.
Completely removed Office 2003 2 times now. Removed ALL traces of Office 2003 from Registry and folders and anywhere it would let me. Reinstalled with all updates SP2 and so on. Compatiility PAks with NO success.

Agreed, WIndows XP PRO 2003 seems to be the issue with Word 2003 not being able to open any .docx files.

Paul, do you have any ideas besides wipining Windows XP Pro and starting over? IF not then I agree with your evaluation.
Paul.

I haven't used Windows XP for a long time and never had to undergo this exercise with it, so I'm not sure if it has a repair option like the later Windows OS versions. If it does, you might try that; otherwise, if came with a recovery partition or media, reinstall using that.

In the absence of recovery partition or media, you'll need to locate all the required mainboard/video drivers and the like so you can reinstall them yourself. Reinstalling the OS that way is much more complicated - I had to do that recently when an unwanted Windows 10 upgrade was foisted on me and it trashed my system so badly I couldn't even access the recovery partition and my recovery media weren't recognised...

__________________
Cheers,
Paul Edstein
[Fmr MS MVP - Word]