Word on Mac OS X 10.5.8 "unexpectedly quit"

Question

Word on Mac OS X 10.5.8 "unexpectedly quit"

Last night my Word "unexpectedly quit" and I was unable to
relaunch. I am sure I goofed up - because Word went nuts -
I had been able to open to a blank document and see a
formatting toolbar - now it takes two steps, first to get
a blank document and then to get a toolbar - which is
not "attached" to the blank document. Also in Project
Gallery, "labels" for instance no longer shows, and I have
to go to "Tools" in the menu bar.

I did some research on-line and got a bunch of different
recommendations - some I didn't understand; none worked.

Is this a lost cause? Or is there a way to get back to my
"old self"? THANKS!!!

iMac, Mac OS X (10.5.8)

Posted on Aug 5, 2010 5:56 AM

Reply

Answer 1

macjack

Level 10

111,168 points

Aug 5, 2010 6:54 AM in response to Craig Marshall Smith

Create a new User go to System Preferences >> Accounts >> "+" (make it an admin acct) and test the app in this new account, if it works the problem is isolated to your User and not systemwide.

Don't know if you checked http://www.microsoft.com/mac/default.mspx but it's a good place for these types of issues. Also, are you up-to-date on updates?

-mj

Reply

Answer 2

Aug 5, 2010 1:09 PM in response to macjack

Thanks!

I am not the brightest at this stuff. I went to system preferences and accounts -
but I am not sure what to do next. What does "+" mean? Or how to create a new User.
It seems like when I do these things there is a risk that I will cause more damage.

Reply

Answer 3

macjack

Level 10

111,168 points

Aug 5, 2010 2:56 PM in response to Craig Marshall Smith

Craig Marshall Smith wrote:
I am not sure what to do next. What does "+" mean? Or how to create a new User.

The "+" means add an account (new User)

It seems like when I do these things there is a risk that I will cause more damage.

No, actually your own account is more protected working in a new one.

-mj

Reply

Answer 4

Aug 6, 2010 9:30 AM in response to macjack

Thanks again - would this procedure simply be a
way to determine if the problem were system-wide,
or could it actually solve the problem? I think I may
upgrade in November when the new Word is
released.

Reply

Answer 5

macjack

Level 10

111,168 points

Aug 6, 2010 10:29 AM in response to Craig Marshall Smith

Craig Marshall Smith wrote:
would this procedure simply be a way to determine if the problem were system-wide...

Yes.

or could it actually solve the problem?

Not in itself, but it will tell us the next steps to follow in troubleshooting it.

-mj

Reply

Answer 6

Aug 6, 2010 12:27 PM in response to macjack

I am going to give it a try; one thing I noticed; some of my documents
are safe and sound; and other have turned into a bunch of nonsense
symbols and signs and letters.

Reply

Answer 7

Aug 6, 2010 12:41 PM in response to Craig Marshall Smith

I created a new User - Administrator account. And clicked on Word - and
it's as it was - a two step process to bring up a blank document and the
toolbar. That's not a big deal - but the apparent loss of some documents
is - and I have no idea why some documents are safe and some are not.

When I find a "bad" documents I get these choices:

Text only
MS-DOS Text
Rich Text Format
HTML
Unicode Text
AppleWorks 5 & 6
Microsoft Excel Worksheet 3.x, 4.x, 5.x
Microsoft Excel 97-2002 for Windows
Recocer Text From Any File

I feel like I have turned down the wrong road and
can't get back on the highway. Appreciate your help.

Reply

Answer 8

macjack

Level 10

111,168 points

Aug 6, 2010 2:12 PM in response to Craig Marshall Smith

I could tell you try to repair this with the 10.5.8 Combo Update and it wouldn't hurt to try. This is a fuller install, as opposed to an incremental "delta" update so it should overwrite any files that are damaged or missing. It does not matter if you have applied it before.
Remember to Verify Disk before update and repair permissions after update from /Applications/Utilities/Disk Utility.

... But I think it's an MS Office/Word problem and you'd be better off pursuing it at Mactopia.

-mj

Reply

Answer 9

Aug 6, 2010 3:14 PM in response to macjack

I downloaded the package and now Ican't access any Word.

"Microsoft Word cannot load the Microsoft Office shared libraries.

The files have been moved from their original locations.

Try: Move Word back to the Microsoft Office folder (?????)
where it was originally installed.

Reinstall Word t make sure that all files are installed correctly."

Obviously this profoundly affects my documents and my life,
really - what can I do? If I were to reinstall Word do I need
the CD??? I have no idea where a Microsoft Office folder
might be.

Help would be greatly appreciated.

Reply

Answer 10

macjack

Level 10

111,168 points

Aug 6, 2010 4:44 PM in response to Craig Marshall Smith

Craig Marshall Smith wrote:
"Microsoft Word cannot load the Microsoft Office shared libraries.
The files have been moved from their original locations.
Try: Move Word back to the Microsoft Office folder (?????)
where it was originally installed.
Reinstall Word t make sure that all files are installed correctly."

Is your Microsoft word application in your /Applications folder, inside your Microsoft Office folder? That's where it should be... if you move apps out of their folders, you confuse your system. Did you move any /Library folders, or /Library/Receipts, or Users/yourname/Library?

If you have to re-install Office, go to /Applications/Microsoft Office 2008/Additional Tools/Remove Office/ Remove Office.app

To re-install, you will need the disc.

-mj

Reply

Answer 11

Aug 6, 2010 4:44 PM in response to Craig Marshall Smith

Now I'd be happy just to get back to where I
was earlier today and simply wait until November
to get the new Word. I can't access documents,
write anything, get or make labels - as it is
right now. How can I undo to 10.5.8 Combo
Update???

Thanks.

Reply

Answer 12

macjack

Level 10

111,168 points

Aug 6, 2010 4:48 PM in response to Craig Marshall Smith

Craig Marshall Smith wrote:
How can I undo to 10.5.8 Combo Update???

You can't without erasing your system. Besides, that's where you want to be. This isn't an issue with your system software, it's an issue with MS Office/Word.

-mj

Reply

Answer 13

Aug 12, 2010 8:07 PM in response to macjack

We installed Office 2008 plus Snow Leopard.

And deleted the old Word.

Bingo!

Thanks again!!!

Reply

Answer 14

macjack

Level 10

111,168 points

Aug 14, 2010 8:48 AM in response to Craig Marshall Smith

You're welcome.
Glad you're finally up and running again 🙂

-mj

Reply