How to troubleshoot damaged documents in Word

  • Article
  • 13 minutes to read
  • Applies to:
    Discussion for Part 365, Discussion 2019, Word 2016, Word 2013, Word 2010

Note

Office 365 ProPlus is being renamed to Microsoft 365 Apps for enterprise. For more information about this change, read this blog mail service.

Summary

This commodity describes how to identify a damaged document in Discussion 2007 and later versions. Additionally, this commodity includes steps that explain how to recover the text and data that is contained in a document after yous have identified the certificate as damaged.

This article is intended for a kickoff to intermediate computer user. You lot may find it easier to follow the steps if you lot print this commodity starting time.

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A damaged certificate or a software issue?

A Discussion document can become corrupted for several reasons that will prevent you lot from opening it. This behavior may be related to damage to the document or to the template on which the certificate is based. This behavior might include the post-obit:

  • Repeatedly renumbers the existing pages in the document
  • Repeatedly redoes the page breaks in the certificate
  • Wrong document layout and formatting
  • Unreadable characters on the screen
  • Error messages during processing
  • A computer that stops responding when you open the file
  • Whatever other unexpected behavior that cannot be attributed to the typical functioning of the program

Sometimes, this behavior can be caused by factors other than document damage. It is important to decide whether the document is damaged or whether the problem is a software issue. To eliminate these other factors, follow these steps:

  1. Look for similar behavior in other documents. Effort to open other Discussion documents to see whether the same problem occurs. If they open correctly, then the problem might be with the Word certificate.
  2. Look for similar behavior in other Microsoft Office programs. If this is the example, then the upshot might be with some other application or the operating system.

If whatsoever of these steps indicate that the problem is not in the document, you will then have to troubleshoot Word, the Office suite, or the operating system that is running on the computer.

Troubleshooting steps to try if the damaged certificate does not open

Try the methods in the guild given. If ane does not work for you, try the adjacent 1.

Step 1: Configure Give-and-take

  1. Start Give-and-take.
  2. On the View tab, select Draft in the Views group.
  3. Select the File Menu, and and then Options, and so Avant-garde.
  4. In the Show document content department, select Utilise typhoon font in Draft and Outline views and Show pic placeholders.
  5. Scroll downward to the General section, clear the check box Update automated links at open, select OK, and then close Give-and-take.

Stride 2: Open the damaged document

  1. Start Discussion.
  2. Select the File Bill of fare, and then select Open up.
  3. Select the damaged certificate, and then select Open.

If y'all tin can open up the certificate, close the document and so reopen it past using method 6, and repair the document. Otherwise get to method two.

Method 2: Insert the document every bit a file in a new document

Stride 1: Create a new blank document

  1. Select the File Carte du jour, and then select New.
  2. Select Blank document, and then select Create.

Step two: Insert the damaged document into the new document

  1. On the Insert tab, select Insert Object, and so select Text From File.

  2. In the Insert File dialog box, locate and and then select the damaged certificate. Then, select Insert.

    Note

    Y'all might accept to reapply some formatting to the concluding section of the new document.

Step 1: Create blank document

  1. In Word, select the File Bill of fare, and so select New.
  2. Select Blank document, and then select Create.
  3. In the new document, type "This is a examination."
  4. Select the File Menu, and then select Save.
  5. Blazon "Rescue link," and then select Salvage.
  1. Select the text y'all typed in step one-3.
  2. On the Home tab, select Re-create in the Clipboard group.
  3. Select the File Bill of fare, and so select New.
  4. Select Bare document, and and so select Create.
  5. On the Home tab, select the arrow on the Paste push in the Clipboard group, and and then select Paste Special.
  6. Select Paste link, select Formatted Text (RTF).
  7. Select OK.

  1. Right-click the linked text in the document, point to Linked Document Object, then select Links.

  2. In the Links dialog box, select the file name of the linked document, so select Alter Source.

  3. In the Modify Source dialog box, select the document that you lot cannot open, and so select Open.

  4. Select OK to close the Links dialog box.

    Note

    The information from the damaged document volition appear if in that location was any recoverable information or text.

  5. Correct-click the linked text, bespeak to Linked Document Object, and then select Links.

  6. In the Links dialog box, select Interruption Link.

  7. When you receive the post-obit message, select Yep: Are you certain you want to break the selected links?

Method iv: Utilize the "Recover Text from Any File" converter

Note

The "Recover Text from Any File" converter has limitations. For example, certificate formatting is lost. Additionally, graphics, fields, drawing objects, and any other items that are non text are lost. However, field text, headers, footers, footnotes, and endnotes are retained every bit uncomplicated text.

  1. In Word, select the File Bill of fare, and then select Open.
  2. In the Files of type box, select Recover Text from Any File(.).
  3. Select the document from which you want to recover the text.
  4. Select Open.

After the document is recovered by using the "Recover Text from Whatsoever File" converter, there is some binary data text that is not converted. This text is primarily at the start and terminate of the document. You must delete this binary information text before you salve the file equally a Word document.

Note

If yous are using Word 2007 and there is not a file button in the User Interface, choose the Office Button and follow the directions when necessary.

Troubleshooting steps to try if you tin can open the damaged document

Method ane: Copy everything except the last paragraph mark to a new document

Footstep i: Create a new document

  1. In Word, select File on the Ribbon, and then select New.
  2. Select Blank certificate, and so select Create.

Step 2: Open the damaged document

  1. Select File on the Ribbon, and then select Open.
  2. Select the damaged certificate, and so select Open up.

Pace iii: Copy the contents of document, and then paste the contents into the new document

Note

If your certificate contains section breaks, copy only the text between the sections breaks. Exercise not copy the section breaks because this may bring the damage into your new document. Change the document view to draft view when you copy and paste between documents to avoid transferring section breaks. To change to draft view, on the View tab, select Draft in the Document Views group.

  1. In the damaged document, printing CTRL+End, and then press CTRL+SHIFT+Habitation.
  2. On the Dwelling tab, select Re-create in the Clipboard grouping.
  3. On the View tab, select Switch Windows in the Window group.
  4. Select the new certificate that y'all created in step 1.
  5. On the Habitation tab, select Paste in the Clipboard group.

If the strange behavior persists, go to method 8.

Method 2: Change the template that is used past the document

Pace 1: Determine the template that is used past the certificate

  1. Open the damaged document in Word.
  2. Select File on the Ribbon, and then select Options.
  3. Select Add-Ins.
  4. In the Manage box, select Templates under View and manage Office add-ins.
  5. Select Go. The Certificate template box will list the template that is used past the document. If the template that is listed is Normal, go to step 2. Otherwise, become to step 3.

Step ii: Rename the global template (Normal.dotm)

  1. Go out Word.
  2. Select the Start push button.
  3. In your operating system, search for normal.dotm. Information technology's typically establish in this location: %userprofile%\appdata\roaming\microsoft\templates
  4. Right-click Normal.dotm, and then select Rename.
  5. Type "Oldword.old", and then press ENTER.
  6. Close File Explorer.
  7. Offset Word, and and so open up the document.

Pace three: Alter the document template

  1. Open the damaged document in Give-and-take.
  2. Select File on the Ribbon, and so select Options.
  3. Select Add-Ins.
  4. In the Manage box, select Templates, and and so select Become.
  5. Select Attach.
  6. In the Templates folder, select Normal.dotm, then select Open.
  7. Select OK to shut the Templates and Add-ins dialog box.
  8. Get out Word.

Step 4: Verify that changing templates worked

  1. Start Give-and-take.
  2. Select File on the Ribbon, and then select Options.
  3. Select the damaged document, and then select Open.

If the strange beliefs persists, go to method 3.

Method 3: Start Discussion using default settings

You can utilise the /a switch to kickoff Word past using but the default settings in Discussion. When you utilize the /a switch, Word does non load any add-ins. Additionally, Word does not use your existing Normal.dotm template. Restart Give-and-take past using the /a switch.

Stride 1: Start Discussion by using the /a switch

  1. Exit Word.

  2. Select the Start push button and search for Run. In the Run dialog box type the following:

    winword.exe /a

Step two: Open the certificate

  1. In Word, select File on the Ribbon, and then select Open.
  2. Select the damaged document, and then select Open up.

If the foreign behavior persists, go to method 4.

Method 4: Modify printer drivers

Step 1: Try a dissimilar printer commuter

  1. In your operating system search for Devices and Printers.
  2. Select Add a printer.
  3. In the Add Printer dialog box, select Add a local printer.
  4. Select Use an existing port, and so select Next.
  5. In the Manufacturer list, select Microsoft.
  6. Select Microsoft XPS Document Writer, and so select Next.
  7. Select Use the driver that is currently installed (recommended), and then select Next.
  8. Select to select the Fix as the default printer check box, and and so select Next.
  9. Select Cease.

Step 2: Verify that changing printer drivers fixes the trouble

  1. Starting time Word.
  2. Select File on the Ribbon, and and then select Open.
  3. Select the damaged document, and then select Open up.

If the foreign behavior persists, become to footstep three.

Step 3: Reinstall original printer commuter

Windows ten and Windows 7

  1. In your operating system search for Printers.

  2. Select the original default printer, and then select Delete.

    If y'all are prompted for an administrator password or for a confirmation, blazon the password, or select Keep.

  3. If you lot are prompted to remove all the files that are associated with the printer, select Aye.

  4. Select Add a printer or scanner, and then follow the instructions in the Add together Printer Sorcerer to reinstall the printer driver.

Step 4: Verify that irresolute printer drivers fixes the problem

  1. Start Word.
  2. Select File on the Ribbon, and then select Open.
  3. Select the damaged certificate, and so select Open.

If the foreign behavior persists, become to method v.

Method 5: Force Discussion to try to repair a file

Pace 1: Repair document

In Discussion, select File on the Ribbon, and then select Open.

  1. In the Open dialog box, click once to highlight your Word document.
  2. Select the arrow on the Open up button, and so select Open up and Repair.

Step two: Verify that repairing the document fixes the trouble

Verify that the strange behavior no longer occurs. If the strange behavior persists, restart Windows, and then go to method half-dozen.

Method 6: Change the document format, and and then catechumen the document back to the Discussion format

Step 1: Open the document

  1. Kickoff Word.
  2. Select File on the Ribbon, and then select Open.
  3. Select the damaged document, so select Open.

Pace 2: Salve the document in a dissimilar file format

  1. Select File on the Ribbon, and then select Save every bit.
  2. Select Other Formats.
  3. In the Save equally file type listing, select Rich Text Format (*.rtf).
  4. Select Salvage.
  5. Select File on the Ribbon, and then select Close.

Step 3: Open the document, and and so convert document dorsum to Word file format

  1. In Word, select File, and then select Open.
  2. Select the converted document, and then select Open.
  3. Select File, and so select Save every bit.
  4. Cull Word Document for the Salve Equally type.
  5. Rename the document's file name, and then select Save.

Step iv: Verify that converting the certificate file format fixes the problem

Verify that the strange behavior no longer occurs. If the behavior persists, endeavour to salve the file in another file format. Repeat step 1 to step 4, and then try to save the file in the post-obit file formats, in the following order:

  • Webpage (.htm; .html)
  • Any other give-and-take processing format
  • Plain Text (.txt)

Annotation

When y'all save files in the Plainly Text (.txt) format, you might resolve the damage to the document. However, all document formatting, macro codes, and graphics are lost. When you save files in the Plain Text (.txt) format, you must reformat the document. Therefore, use the Patently Text (.txt) format only if the other file formats do not resolve the trouble.

If the foreign behavior persists, get to method 7.

Method 7: Copy the undamaged parts of the damaged certificate to a new document

Step 1: Create a new document

  1. In Word, select File, and then select New.
  2. Select Blank document, and then select Create.

Step two: Open the damaged document

  1. Select File, and then select Open.
  2. Select the damaged certificate, and then select Open.

Step 3: Copy the undamaged parts of document, and and then paste the undamaged parts to the new document

Note

If your document contains section breaks, copy only the text between the sections breaks. Do not copy the section breaks considering this might bring the damage into your new document. Alter the certificate view to typhoon view when you re-create and paste between documents to avoid transferring section breaks. To modify to draft view, on the View tab, select Draft in the Document Views group.

  1. In the damaged document, locate and then select an undamaged office of the document's contents.
  2. On the Dwelling house tab, select Copy in the Clipboard grouping.
  3. On the View tab, select Switch Windows in the Window grouping.
  4. Select the new document that you lot created in footstep i.
  5. On the Home tab, select Paste in the Clipboard group.
  6. Repeat steps 3a to 3e for each undamaged part of the document. You must reconstruct the damaged sections of your document.

Method viii: Switch the document view to remove the damaged content

If the certificate appears to be truncated (non all pages in the certificate are displayed), information technology might exist possible to switch the certificate view and remove the damaged content from the document.

  1. Determine the page number on which the damaged content is causing the document to appear to be truncated.

    1. In Discussion, select File, and then select Open.
    2. Select the damaged document, and so select Open.
    3. Scroll to view the final page that is displayed before the certificate appears to be truncated. Brand a notation of the content which appears on that page.

  2. Switch views, and so remove the damaged content.

    1. On the View tab in the Document Views group, select Web Layout or Draft view.
    2. Coil to view the content that was displayed before the document appeared to be truncated.
    3. Select and delete the adjacent paragraph, table, or object in the file.
    4. On the View tab in the Document Views group, select Impress Layout. If the document continues to appear to be truncated, continue to switch views and delete content until the document no longer appears truncated in Print Layout view.
    5. Save the certificate.

Method nine: Open the document with Notepad

If the certificate is corrupted and none of the previous methods work, try to recover its content by opening the certificate with Notepad.

Note

By using this method, you will lose all formatting. The intention is to recover the content.

  1. Locate the damaged document using Windows File Explorer.
  2. Right click the certificate and select Open up with.
  3. Select Notepad:

Screenshot of opening the Word doc in Notepad.

  1. The document will open in Notepad with actress lawmaking and text around the content.

    Note

    Yous may accept to alter the file type from "Text Documents (.txt)" to "All Files (.*)".

  2. Clean the text by deleting all or nearly of the extra characters.

  3. Select File, and then select Save As… Rename the certificate to brand certain that you don't overwrite the damaged one.

Go back to Word and open up the new document. Once in Word, yous can clean information technology upwardly and endeavor to reapply the lost format.