Help! Corrupted Word file(?)

[Geoff Hart <ghart -at- videotron -dot- ca>]

Arroxane wonders: <<MS Word 2003 got the last laugh this time. I  
think the file is corrupt, but getting an insufficient memory  
error... [AVG antivirus snipped]>>

There's been considerable discussion of problems with the latest AVG  
on copyediting-l. Consensus seems to be that you might need to  
uninstall it and download a new build to resolve these problems.

<<At this point, I'm stuck with either a) going back to the version  
four days before or b) recovering text only and rebuilding the  
styles, links, references, index, ToC, and so forth. Perhaps one of  
you has a better idea on how to repair this doc without wasting  
another week repeating what I've already done to the doc?>>

A couple possibilities, but before you do any of them, make a backup  
copy of the problem file; what I'm recommending should be perfectly  
safe, but if Murphy happens, you'll be glad you can try again with  
the safe version of the file. Alternatively, work on a duplicate/copy  
of the file.

First, try this: Open the File menu, select Open, and select the  
problem file... but don't click OK by reflex. Instead, click the  
teeny little cryptic triangle beside the OK button that indicates the  
presence of a hidden menu. From that menu, select "Open and repair".  
This wonderful little feature solves an amazing number of problems.  
Word tables often become corrupted, and have to be re-entered from  
scratch, so you may lose some formatting if you're forced to recover  
a file in this manner (it's the corrupted table, not the recovery  
process, that causes problems), but it shouldn't be a disastrous amount.

If that doesn't work, try this instead: Create a new file, then open  
the Insert menu, select File, and select the problem file. That  
sometimes also fixes problems.

If you think the problem might result from a graphic in the file,  
open the Options dialog and turn off the display of graphics. Then  
try opening the file, and if you can open it successfully, do a "save  
as" under a new name. You may need to delete and reinsert graphics  
until you find the problem.

<<And please, no lectures about backups or Word or whatever.>>

Sorry to hear you're providing an object lesson of the need for  
backups. Sorry if that sounds snarky... I've spent a lot of time  
today advising people how to recover lost files that could have been  
recovered in minutes from a good backup. It gets kinda old after a  
while.

----------------------------------------------------
-- Geoff Hart
ghart -at- videotron -dot- ca / geoffhart -at- mac -dot- com
www.geoff-hart.com
--------------------------------------------------
***Now available***  _Effective onscreen editing_
(http://www.geoff-hart.com/home/onscreen-book.htm)

Print version: http://stores.lulu.com/store.php?fStoreID=1505747

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

ComponentOne Doc-To-Help gives you everything you need to author and 
publish quality Help, Web, and print content. Perfect for technical 
authors, developers, and policy writers. Download a FREE trial.
http://www.componentone.com/DocToHelp/

True single source, conditional content, PDF export, modular help.
Help & Manual is the most powerful authoring tool for technical
documentation. Boost your productivity! http://www.helpandmanual.com

---
You are currently subscribed to TECHWR-L as archive -at- web -dot- techwr-l -dot- com -dot- 

To unsubscribe send a blank email to 
techwr-l-unsubscribe -at- lists -dot- techwr-l -dot- com
or visit http://lists.techwr-l.com/mailman/options/techwr-l/archive%40web.techwr-l.com


To subscribe, send a blank email to techwr-l-join -at- lists -dot- techwr-l -dot- com

Send administrative questions to admin -at- techwr-l -dot- com -dot-  Visit
http://www.techwr-l.com/ for more resources and info.