Microsoft Office Word/Excel 2003

..and Norton Antivirus.

So I have this issue..

When I open Word 2003 it will freeze at the splash screen. Close it out, restart it in safe mode, won't open anything.
When I open Excel 2003 it will not open any files whatsoever.
When I open Norton to run a manual virus scan, it will not run one. It also only seems to run the weekly scheduled scan whenever it feels like it.

This is associated in some form or another to Object Desktop. How do I know this? I uninstalled it and did not have it on my system for a week or so. During that time the three previously mentioned programs worked without a hitch. Last night I reinstalled Object Desktop, after having argued with Theme Manager for an hour or two, I finally had everything running smoothly.

Then I decided to work on one of my projects, I opened Word 2003 and it froze once more at the splash screen. A little irritated.. Opened Excel, it loaded, but would not open any files. A little more irritated.. Opened up Norton and tried to run a manual scan. No go. So fully irritated once again.

I like Object Desktop. I do not want to have to uninstall it just to have my basic programs function. So here I am hoping that someone here will be able to assist me.

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Corky_O

Join Date 04/2004

Valkaria,

I am not sure what is going on there.

Which of the programs have you installed?

I would suggest returning Windows to the default theme including all icons, then perform the following:

- Save any skins you want to a temporary folder in say "My Documents"
- Uninstall Object Desktop programs
- Uninstall Stardock Central last
- Reboot machine
- Delete the "Stardock" folder found in "C:\Program Files" (where "C is the letter drive).
- Open "My Computer", then go to "Tools > Folder Options > View tab" and select "Show hidden files and folders", click "Apply".
- Go to "C:\Documents and Settings\"user account"\Local Settings\Application Data" (where "C" is the letter drive, and "user account" is the name on the account when logged in) > delete any "Stardock" folder found there.
- Reinstall Stardock Central, then reboot machine.
- Install WindowBlinds, Icon Packager, and Theme Manager.
- Reboot machine and test those programs for compatibility.
- If all goes well, you could try other programs as you wish (note - some strange behavior has been reported by a handful of people who installed the new DesktopX version 3, and it is possible that you are experiencing some sort of difficulty with the program).

Sorry I can't offer more information regarding DesktopX as there seems to be plenty of people without issues running the program, so some of us are just unlucky enough to have an incompatibility of sorts.

I run Norton 2003 products, Office XP, and many other programs with WindowBlinds, IconPackager, and ObjectDock Plus without issue (I am an Object Desktop subscriber).

Note - if you only have the Object Desktop CD and cannot install Stardock Central individually - you have two options:

(1) Install the full Object Desktop program > run Stardock Central, and use it to uninstall extra programs to enable you to test compatibility.

(2) Go here Link, and request Stardock Central download > download and install Stardock Central and use your Object Desktop product key to register - (I have both a CD and the Network versions, so not sure if there is a limitation for downloading network version for those who have only CD).

I hope this helps in some way.

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That seems to have helped. I guess I'll have to pay more attention to the programs I install.

Thank you, Corky. Much appreciated.

Posted via WinCustomize Browser/Stardock Central

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Corky_O

Join Date 04/2004

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Corky:

I have a very similar situation to Ms. Valkaria's, but different enough for me to provide you with this info. and ask for help:

I have been using and downloading updates for Stardock products, such as Object Desktop, WindowBlinds, etc for almost a year now. I have also been using MS Office (Word, Excel, etc) in addition to Norton's full line of products, all of these without any problems or incompatibilities - until just recently.

Immediately after the last update for IconPackager and Stardock Central, I could not open any Word or Excel documents, even though the applications were up and running. Further, I could not update iTunes to the next version, and I could no longer run Norton's "Live Update" to update virus definitions, etc.

Since I have been using "Norton SystemWorks 2005 Premier" in addition to their other products, I always run a "one button checkup" (it checks for program integrity (corruption) and also scans the registry for errors, etc) before and after all program installations/de-installations or program updating to newer versions. Surprisingly, upon running the registry scan each time, no errors have ever been found after installing/updating any Stardock programs, while just about every other name-brand software has had at least one or more detected after installation...until now.

What the registry scan detected immediately after updating Stardock's latest "Stardock Central" & "IconPackager" were 2 registry errors: Norton SystemWorks indicated that 2 shared .dll files could no longer be found. This is when all the problems occured.

Using Norton's GoBack, I restored my computer to the point in time just before downloading the updates for Stardock Central & IconPackager. I ran the registry scan again, and there were no missing .dll files. Files opened, Norton's LiveUpdate worked, iTunes updated, and everything worked just fine...except those 2 Stardock updates were needing to be re-downloaded.

After re-downloading the Stardock updates, the exact same problems returned, as expected. I went through this scenario 3 times with the same results. After the last system restore (using GoBack) I decided not to re-download the Stardock updates nor any other Stardock updates from them until they can write a patch or something else can be done. While I do not have any knowledge of the inner workings of computers or even what a ".dll file" does, should I assume (perhaps wrongly?) that one or both of the Stardock updates were responsible for removing the 2 shared .dll files during the update (possibly substituting them?) causing several applications to not be able to function without them?

I do know this: by observing messages in the lower left corner of the applications window (such as Excel, for example) my computer will say something such as "ready", "opening ..." "running virus scan", etc. I noticed that when the 2 shared .dll files were missing, the computer never got to the point of displaying "running virus scan". Since Norton scans for viruses when something is downloaded (including updates) or opening a file (such as an Excel file), it could be Norton that was needing one or both of these shared .dll's to scan for viruses before allowing the file to be opened.

Regardless, Norton and Stardock and all applications and files have been working together smoothly, all along, up until now.

I have emailed Stardock support twice and have not heard back from them yet. That is why I am posting here.

If you need to know the names of the 2 shared .dll files, let me know, as I did not think to write them down, but I might be willing to go through this a fourth time, only if necessary.

Please help if you can, thanks.

Jay

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I had the similar issue after install the beta version of Iconpacker. If install Iconpackger and apply a new iconpack, the office 2003 claim that the "file not found" message when I try to open some file (Excel, Word or Powerpoint have the same issue). But, If I open program and use file->open to open those file, every thing is OK.

My solution is:
Before install any beta version of stardock software, create a system restorepoint. If something wrong, restore to the SRP.

I am use Windows XP professional (Traditional Edition) with Office 2003 SP1.

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hello Valkaria the solution for this problem is Disable Norton AntiVirus Office plug-in, go to this link for more information: http://support.microsoft.com/kb/329820/en-us

or follow next instruccions:

Norton AntiVirus 2004, Norton SystemWorks 2004, Norton AntiVirus 2003, Norton SystemWorks 2003, Norton AntiVirus 2002 or Norton SystemWorks 2002 is installed
Disable the Norton AntiVirus Office plug-in. To do this, follow these steps. Norton AntiVirus 2002 is used as an example. Warning This workaround may make your computer or your network more vulnerable to attack by malicious users or by malicious software such as viruses. We do not recommend this workaround but are providing this information so that you can implement this workaround at your own discretion. Use this workaround at your own risk.1. Start Norton AntiVirus. To do this, click Start, point to All Programs, point to Norton AntiVirus, and then click Norton AntiVirus 2002.

Note If you installed Norton AntiVirus as part of the Norton SystemWorks 2002 program, click Start, point to All Programs, point to Norton SystemWorks, point to Norton AntiVirus, and then click Norton AntiVirus 2002.
2. Click Options.

NoteIn Norton SystemWorks 2002, click Options, and then click Norton Antivirus.
3. Under Other, click Miscellaneous.
4. Under How to keep Microsoft Office documents protected, click to clear the Enable Office Plug-in check box, and then click OK.
5. Restart the computer.

HUGO FROM MEXICO

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Hello,

I'm having the exact same issues as Valkaria using WinXP Pro/SP2 and OfficeXP Pro SP3 with the same programs. I haven't tried the suggestion of Corky_O but will do so in the maorning and repost back.

I have been a long time user of WB and just resently as of 2 days ago upgraded to OD.

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