[SOLVED] Cannot open Office documents from Explorer Window. Can't attach them to emails either.

[Andrea32]

I am running Windows 10 on a Lenovo E580 Thinkpad. Until a few weeks ago, I could open Microsoft Office documents (Word, Excel, PowerPoint) from Explorer windows and attach them to emails. Now I cannot. I can open the Microsoft programs and open the documents from the programs, but I cannot open the documents from the Explorer window. It wouldn't be such a big deal, except I cannot attach any documents to my emails and that is a big deal. I can see all the correct Microsoft icons so I know that the programs are correctly attached to the documents.

When I double click to open the document, the Explorer window uses all my memory and will crash the computer if I don't X out of the window quickly. I have uninstalled and reinstalled Office and no new updates were made to my computer when I noticed this problem (that I was aware of). I updated all the drivers since.

The only thread I found on this was something where I had to unclick preview and that is not the case for me here. Any thoughts? Thanks!!

 

[Wolfshadw]

In settings, check to see if your default apps have changed for the office programs.

-Wolf sends

 

[Andrea32]

That was the first thing I checked. They have not.

 

[Wolfshadw]

In Windows Explorer, make sure all of the extension are still accurate. (docx for word, xlsx for excel, etc...) Make sure you haven't been hit by ransomware.

-Wolf sends

 

[Andrea32]

All extensions are correct. I have run malware and there is nothing. Thank you!

 

[Wolfshadw]

Try making a copy of a document and pasting it to your Windows Desktop (unless your Explorer window IS the desktop). Make an actual copy of the document and not just a shortcut.

If you can get it there, are you able to open the document/attach it to an e-mail from there?

-Wolf sends

 

[Andrea32]

That is interesting. I can open it from my desktop, but I cannot attach it to my email. What does that mean?

 

[Wolfshadw]

I'm wondering if it's a corrupt user profile. What mail program are you using?

-Wolf sends

 

[Andrea32]

I use both gmail and yahoo. It doesn't work from either.

 

[Wolfshadw]

Try creating a new user for your system and the log into that account.
Create a new document and save it as normal.
Open Windows Explorer to where you saved the document and see if you can open it.
Also see if you can attach it to an e-mail from Windows Explorer.

-Wolf sends

 

[Andrea32]

This might be above my pay grade. I think I can probably do that, but otherwise, my son is coming home from college tomorrow and maybe he can help. I appreciate all your advice and help!