Have you tried repairing the Office installation (via Programs & Features > Microsoft Office > Change in the Windows Control Panel)?

It's also possible the inability to open .doc attachments without first saving them is a function of your email app's security settings. Windows Live Mail, for example, has a setting that prevents the opening of attachments that could contain viruses. Word .doc files fall into this category, but .docx files do not.

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

Tried the repair line but repair option did not come up only delete.

The document will only save as a DOCX and not Word 97-2003 DOC so I cannot open even after saving it.

Any ideas what I can do?

You cannot alter a file's 'type' by changing the extension when saving from an email attachment. Changing the extension, if that's what you're doing, doesn't change the file type. As for opening from your email app, have you checked your email app's security settings?

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

I am not changing anything it just will not open and will only save as DOCX which I also cannot open after saving. How do I alter securtity?

That depends on what email application you're using. So far, you haven't said what that is.

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

Bt Yahoo mail