How to change Registry policy settings?

[dak12]

I have older MS Office files that I use quite often. I now get this message when I try to open them.

"You are attempting to open a file that was created in an earlier version of MS Office. This type of file is blocked from opening in this version by your registry policy settings."

Yikes! Are there any solutions that I can take myself to correct this?

[RetiredGeek]

Dak,

From the information in this MSDN article I assume that this is a work computer and you are using Active Directory. In which case you'll have to see your LAN administrators to get things to work.

[dak12]

It is a work computer, but I own the company and there isonlythe one computer.

[RetiredGeek]

Dak,

What version of Windows are you running?

[Medico]

Dak, Welcome to the Lounge.

It might be helpful to know what version of Office you presently have and what versions the files were created in.

[dak12]

XP

[dak12]

Office 2003 the files were created with that also

[Medico]

For newer versions of Office more than one version of Office can be installed at the same time (Outlook is the only app that cannot). This might also be the case with older versions of Windows. You might install the older version alonside the new version.

[dak12]

It is the only version I have and it came with the computer

[RetiredGeek]

Dak,

I hope that's XP-Pro. If so you can use the information in this article along with the previous one to change the Office Policies.

[PatElsevier.com]

See:http://blogs.msdn.com/b/david_leblan...e-formats.aspx
Or look at [HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Office\11.0\W ord\Security\FileOpenBlock]
"FilesBeforeVersion"=dword:00000000

Hope all the backslashes remain intact.
Cheers,
Peter

[dak12]

Thank so much. This unlocked the files and we are back to happyville!