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MS-DEFCON 2:
Patch reliability is unclear. Unless you have an immediate, pressing need to install a specific patch, don't do it.
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Office Compatibility Pack update
Posted on April 23rd, 2009 at 08:50 5 commentsIf you use Office 2003, Office XP or Office 2000, you need to download and install the latest Office Compatibility Pack, version 3. Microsoft posted it a few hours ago.
The Office Compatibility Pack lets you use Office 2003, XP or 2000 programs to open files that were saved in Office 2007 format.
If you haven’t applied all outstanding updates to your copy of Office 2003, XP or 2000, there’s a list of the specific patches that you need to apply, prior to installing the Compatibility Pack, in Knowledge Base article KB 924074. If you’ve been updating Office regularly (except for this month’s patches), you’re in good shape.
Although the docs don’t say it, I think it’s likely that this new version replaces the old version of the Compatibility Pack, along with its Service Pack. Start with a clean slate and get version 3.0. There’s no Office Genuine Advantage check – just download and install it, no problems.
If anyone has ever told you that they can’t open your document, spreadsheet, or presentation, the first thing to check is whether you saved it in Office 2007 format, and they’re trying to open it with an earlier version of Office. If that’s the case, this is the cure.
5 responses to “Office Compatibility Pack update”
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Sorry to disappoint you Woody, but the “3.0″ version number change and the published date change is for the download information page only. It’s still the same Office Compatibility Pack released back in late May 2007 as I’ve just downloaded and checked myself. So Microsoft really has NOT updated the actual pack.
Download it, then install Office Compatibility Pack SP1 from here:
http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?FamilyID=9a1822c5-49c6-47bd-8bec-0d68693ca564&DisplayLang=enThen obtain the latest post-SP1 Office Compatibility Pack security updates.
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That’s just incredible. I wonder what they were thinking?
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I have no idea. the “version 3″ change seems to be “window dressing” on the Office Compatibility pack download information page.
Office Compatibility pack SP2 has just been released:
http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?displaylang=en&FamilyID=4f97ab2f-1f7d-49a3-9123-7ca3e703b916
Disregard my earlier message to install SP1. After installing original Office Compatibility pack, install the newly released SP2 update. -
I am hoping you can answer this question, before I install the compatibility pack. All of my word 97 and word 2000 document will not open. the open window ask me to choose and encoding to read the document. all is garbage.
I had installed 2007 and unstalled it, hoping that would clear up my problem, did not. I have office 2000 install as of this date. Compatibilty pack for word 2003 did not work. Any suggestions will be more than greatful appreciated, as these documents cannot be replace. Thanks -
JellyB -
The compatibility pack won’t help.
Send me one of the docs and I’ll see if I can figure out what’s happening. You know my email address, yes?
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