Problem opening old files with MS Word for Mac 2011

[Todd's keyboard]

I can no longer open files in my version of MS Word for Mac. The message reads:

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The Open XML file Normal.dotm cannot be opened because there are problems with the contents or the file name might contain invalid characters (for example, <>!/*).

Details:
No error detail available
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I can open old files in Pages and cut and copy the information into a new Word document. However, I can't save the Word document. For example, I try to save the document as "exam1.docx" and get an error message:

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This is not a valid file name.
Try one or more of the following:
* Check the path to make sure it was typed correctly.
* Select a file form the list of files and folders.
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Just updated the Word files and rebooted the Mac. Same problem.

Any thoughts? Thanks.

Todd's stumped keyboard

Version information:
Microsoft Word for Mac 2011 Version 14.1.0 (110310)
Mac OS X 10.6.8

[Todd's keyboard]

Update: The files are opening, saving, and saving as just fine in Word 2008.

I'm laughing and frustrated because I've forgotten how to do simple things like be able to zoom in with the 2008 version.

Todd's nostalgic-for-the-newwer-version keyboard

[Chakravartin]

Toss the Normal template and see if that fixes the problem.

It's at ~/Library/Application Support/Microsoft/Office 2011/User Templates ... or something close to that path.

[Todd's keyboard]

Found that file (Normal.dotm) and moved it into the Trash. Closed and re-started Word for Mac 2011, Still have the problems described earlier.

thanks, Todd

edited to remove a space before a comma

[Chakravartin]

The invalid file name error is one of those rare Microsoft errors that's often correct, but is nevertheless misleading. It doesn't have to refer to the file, itself. It may refer to the name of a volume-name or folder-name in the file's path.

Have you recently renamed your boot volume?

[Todd's keyboard]

No, no recent rename of a boot volume.

The files are stored in a Dropbox folder. I was able to open the same files from a Macbook Air. (The problem is on the iMac.)

Just checked. Same problem trying to open a .docx file that is stored on iMac's hard drive.

thanks, Todd's limited keyboard

[Todd's keyboard]

Chakravartin,

Please let me praise you with great praise.

I just noticed that I had mistakenly renamed my hard drive (with all sorts of gibberish characters).

Last night I cleaned the keyboard, without disconnecting it or shutting down the computer. I didn't want to risk inserting text into an open file, so moved the cursor to the desktop.

Cleaning the keyboard required some scrubbing of one key, as there was some sort of dried substance on it. This must have been what renamed the hard drive. Set it back to more typical characters, and MS Word for Mac 2011 seems to work just fine.

Again, let me praise you with great praise, and thanks,

Todd's clean and usable keyboard

[space-time]

Todd's Keyboard can clean itself?

[Todd's keyboard]

It does hint of a certain amount of recursion.

[MikeF]

That's what happens when you eat a banana candle at the keyboard.