Cut & Paste and Spell Checker Hangs Up Word 2003.

My original thread, "Slow Cut and Paste on Microsoft Word (2003) Document," burned out so I am still having the same problem with WinWord 2003 plus it hangs up when using the spell checker as well. After a detect and repair it worked for a short time, but then back to the problems. Funny thing is I also use Excel 2003 with no problems what so ever. Weird. Advice form on poster is to use OpenOffice 4.1.15, and I do and like it, but still yet would like to fix WD 2003. I thought about cleaning or washing WinWord off and reinstalling it, but there must be something strange going on that only MS can fix. I remember that it worked well before a couple updates then went to hell.

Another thing: when I highlight a paragraph then copy and then paste it to notepad, it hangs for 10-20 seconds. That makes me think it is a Windows problem. Any suggestion, but using another word processer?

You are using a 20 year old program, so hard to say what is happening.

In the end, go through usual steps to eliminate if it is Windows or OS

e.g.
uninstall word and reinstall.

try a clone like libreoffice - do you get same issue?

Is it only Word?

Reinstall windows (in a vhdx as dual boot is a good option as it does not affect current installation).

Buy modern version of Word?

I agree with cereberus.
However it might be worth a try going into Control Panel> Programs and Features Find Microsoft Office 2003, you should be able to right click on that then select repair or modify.

Do you see a large spike in memory usage for Word via device manager when trying the cut/paste/spell checker operations?

I have Office 2003 installed on one of my computers but haven't had any problems with Word 2003. Of course that computer is running Windows XP so that may explain it.

You might want to buy a more recent version of Office if you can afford to pay for it. There are many site that sell them at a reasonable price. Also, there are several free office programs. Examples are LibreOffice and FreeOffice.

BTW, I only use Office 2003 on that old computer. On my main computers I use either Office 2019 or Office 2021.

Though most have moved on , I know there are some who still use this old version of Office on 11, enough at least that there should be complaints in the feedback hub, but I could find none. A web search for that exact same complaint with 11 being the OS turned up only threads you have made in this and in other forums. I would surmise from this that it is not a windows problem. IMO you have a problem either in your office installation, conflict from another app, or issues in your registry.

You can check your windows files with sfc /scannow from a cmd prompt as admin
.
You can eliminate it being conflict from another app using clean boot. If it doesn't happen in a clean boot, you have some software conflicting with Windows. Brink's procedure will help you weed out which one. Perform a Clean Boot in Windows 11 to Troubleshoot Software Conflicts Tutorial

You can uninstall office using the scrub tool, restart, and reinstall it. Microsoft Office Removal Tool

You can clean install windows. You can also attempt a repair install, but I have doubts it would fix whatever the problem is in your case, but you might get lucky.

cereberus said:

You are using a 20 year old program, so hard to say what is happening.

In the end, go through usual steps to eliminate if it is Windows or OS

e.g.
uninstall word and reinstall.

try a clone like libreoffice - do you get same issue?

Is it only Word?

Reinstall windows (in a vhdx as dual boot is a good option as it does not affect current installation).

Buy modern version of Word?

Click to expand...

I did all that as a typical fix, but no deal. The other Office 2003 programs work fine, just WinWord has the weird problems. Yes, of course I tried other programs.

antspants said:

I agree with cereberus.
However it might be worth a try going into Control Panel> Programs and Features Find Microsoft Office 2003, you should be able to right click on that then select repair or modify.

Do you see a large spike in memory usage for Word via device manager when trying the cut/paste/spell checker operations?

Click to expand...

Of course I have used Detect and Repair many times without fixing these problems. I will look to see if the memory is effected.

MisterEd said:

I have Office 2003 installed on one of my computers but haven't had any problems with Word 2003. Of course that computer is running Windows XP so that may explain it.

You might want to buy a more recent version of Office if you can afford to pay for it. There are many site that sell them at a reasonable price. Also, there are several free office programs. Examples are LibreOffice and FreeOffice.

BTW, I only use Office 2003 on that old computer. On my main computers I use either Office 2019 or Office 2021.

Click to expand...

I should have listed everything under the sun, of course I have two similar Dell laptops that WinWord 2003 works just fine with Win 10. I even nave an eMachine with XP that it works on too. Of course,

glasskuter said:

Though most have moved on , I know there are some who still use this old version of Office on 11, enough at least that there should be complaints in the feedback hub, but I could find none. A web search for that exact same complaint with 11 being the OS turned up only threads you have made in this and in other forums. I would surmise from this that it is not a windows problem. IMO you have a problem either in your office installation, conflict from another app, or issues in your registry.

You can check your windows files with sfc /scannow from a cmd prompt as admin
.
You can eliminate it being conflict from another app using clean boot. If it doesn't happen in a clean boot, you have some software conflicting with Windows. Brink's procedure will help you weed out which one. Perform a Clean Boot in Windows 11 to Troubleshoot Software Conflicts Tutorial

You can uninstall office using the scrub tool, restart, and reinstall it. Microsoft Office Removal Tool

You can clean install windows. You can also attempt a repair install, but I have doubts it would fix whatever the problem is in your case, but you might get lucky.

Click to expand...

I hate to repeat myself, or sound condescending, but I started working on computers in the bad old tube operated analog days in 1960, then tube operated digital computers later on, and then modern stuff since then, so even an BSEE and BS Compter Science degree. While I admit being as old and Noah, I am not stupid, of course, I preformed those tasks without good results; the PC still has the same problems.

I give up and will abandon this search.

jeffbeish said:

I am not stupid, of course, I preformed those tasks without good results; the PC still has the same problems.

Click to expand...

Sir, I was in no way insinuating that you are stupid. If you do not state exactly what you have done in your troubleshooting, we have no way of knowing.

I just went back and found your old thread in 11/23 regarding this same issue.
At that time you indicated that when you uninstalled KB5031455 (the moment 4 update)that your issue was resolved. Although you did indicate you had done SFC, no where in that thread was it ever indicated you had tried a clean boot or a clean install or even a reset and remove everything. Now you say your tried those things.

In your first post in this very thread you state "I thought about cleaning or washing WinWord off and reinstalling it" which indicates to me you have not done that either.

glasskuter said:

Sir, I was in no way insinuating that you are stupid. If you do not state exactly what you have done in your troubleshooting, we have no way of knowing.

I just went back and found your old thread in 11/23 regarding this same issue.

Slow Cut and Paste on Microsoft Word (2003) Document

After Windows 11 update KB5031455 on 10/27/2023, I began experiencing a problem in Microsoft Word (Office 2003) with the cut and paste feature. When I would highlight text in Winword, then attempt to paste it anywhere, even on the same page or to another Document file, or even in Notepad, it...

www.elevenforum.com

At that time you indicated that when you uninstalled KB5031455 (the moment 4 update)that your issue was resolved. Although you did indicate you had done SFC, no where in that thread was it ever indicated you had tried a clean boot or a clean install or even a reset and remove everything. Now you say your tried those things.

In your first post in this very thread you state "I thought about cleaning or washing WinWord off and reinstalling it" which indicates to me you have not done that either.

Click to expand...

The problem in explaining methods to troubleshoot a software error in a new version of Windows with all the multitudes of out in the open updates and sneaky updates, using a very old software can frustrate even an old dude like me. One must present credentials to avoid wasted advice, such as using some other software instead of the old worn out one is a waste of both of our time. Being an old crotchy retired engineer and scientist can also be frustrating, in that to clear out the chaff, it takes time to explain the methods one tried to solve a problem. I am not trying to be a fussy dude, just cannot understand why some old worn-out program is not functioning in a new MS version.

I did not think you called me stupid, sometimes I am, but usually I think things out, just for fun. I followed someone's suggestion to use OpenOffice 4.1.15 and I use it lots and like it lots. But, as a retired engineer who worked on and designed flight simulator systems this laptop software is child's play, but that doesn't mean I will give up on solving a stupid problem, or I'm smarter that everyone else. Just my nature to beat a dead horse back to life. Please excuse my persistence, it is how I made huge pay checks as a troubleshooter on the most sophisticated machines ever designed, and I refuse to allow some stupid programs defeat me, eve at my age. Guess that's what happened when we got old, huh?

It has to be something simple though. Just that simple stuff usually gets us. Old Japanese saying, "The fog is so fine that you can't hold it in your hands, yet it can hide a mountain.” Does that make sense?

jeffbeish said:

It has to be something simple though.

Click to expand...

Respectfully, Sir., it may well be simple, but it's Windows. It can just as easily be a problem from hell.

One has to eliminate everything he can in as orderly a manner as he can.
I guarantee if one calls Microsoft with a problem, the very first thing they have you do is a clean boot. Then SFC/DISM. Then Uninstall/reinstall of whatever app is not working correctly. Somewhere in there they will have you create another account to see if the problem follows.
They graduate up from there to repair/reinstall/reset of the OS, depending on what is applicable to the problem at hand.

Even if you feel those steps are a waste of your time, MS won't help you if you do not do them. It's the same as is this forum. We know only what you tell us and we can better understand it if you communicate without fanfare. We can't see your system. Many times you have to isolate what the problem is NOT in order to isolate where the problem IS. Most troubleshooting is a process of elimination rather than being able to point your finger directly at the cause.

You, yourself said in your old thread you had fixed the problem by removing an update. That be the case, I would have to ask this "After it was fixed, when did it break again. Was it after another update? The same update?"

Most of us here make regular images of our system. If we encounter a weird problem, we can easily get back to a state when we didn't have a problem in less than 15 minutes. Like I said. It's Windows. One had better be prepared.

glasskuter,​

Stop with the "sir," I'm only close to 84. I understand and have done it all or a least what I remember. It is not all that important, just want to find out why it occurs. I use OpenOffice 4.1.15 mostly anyway, but will try again with WinWord later. Thanks for your help.

jeffbeish said:

I use OpenOffice 4.1.15 mostly anyway, but will try again with WinWord later.​

Click to expand...

You might want to consider switching to LibreOffice.

Around 2010 there was a falling out among the developers of OpenOffice. Some of the ones that left took the source code of OpenOffice and create a new program called LibreOffice. That must have been a crippling blow to OpenOffice because I don't think that there has been a new major release since about 2016. On the other hand LibreOffice has been getting regular updates since its initial release in 2011.

MisterEd said:

You might want to consider switching to LibreOffice.

Around 2010 there was a falling out among the developers of OpenOffice. Some of the ones that left took the source code of OpenOffice and create a new program called LibreOffice. That must have been a crippling blow to OpenOffice because I don't think that there has been a new major release since about 2016. On the other hand LibreOffice has been getting regular updates since its initial release in 2011.

Click to expand...

Thanks, I will try it and report back.

Wow, you are right, it is very nice, so far. I uninstalled OpenOffice and will avoid WinWord. Thanks, I may not be too old yet!

i use word 2003 on win 11 with no problems even the ones you have described.
but in your computer specs it states 4GB of RAM, there may very well lie your error as the system maybe trying to free up RAM and resources to copy and paste.

just an observation. i hope this maybe of help, best of luck. Steve ..

jeffbeish said:

Thanks, I will try it and report back.

Wow, you are right, it is very nice, so far. I uninstalled OpenOffice and will avoid WinWord. Thanks, I may not be too old yet!

Click to expand...

I will be 73 in about a week and have owned home computers since 1979. Computers back in the early days were 100 times harder to use and much more expensive than the ones they sell now. Even though computers are much easier to use now I still find it hard to keep up with all the changes.

I use Microsoft Office on my computers because that is what I used at school and the jobs I had before I retired.

The first word processor I used was Wordstar back in the 1980s. In the late 1990s I used StarWriter with Linux. This version was free while the Windows version was not. It was the ancestor of what later became StarOffice. StarOffice became OpenOffice when it became a free program.

MisterEd said:

I will be 73 in about a week and have owned home computers since 1979. Computers back in the early days were 100 times harder to use and much more expensive than the ones they sell now. Even though computers are much easier to use now I still find it hard to keep up with all the changes.

I use Microsoft Office on my computers because that is what I used at school and the jobs I had before I retired.

The first word processor I used was Wordstar back in the 1980s. In the late 1990s I used StarWriter with Linux. This version was free while the Windows version was not. It was the ancestor of what later became StarOffice. StarOffice became OpenOffice when it became a free program.

Click to expand...

The first "computers" I worked on were analog flight simulators while i the Air Force. Yeah, back in the C-119, F-86, B-36 days, then C-130 and F-102, all servos, tube amps analog computers. The newest was a B-52 made in 1959, the last of its kind. After eight years, and most of my college done, I left for an engineering job with Link Aviation out of New York and on the road for 5 years until that got old. But, they sent me to school to learn digital systems and off I went either fixing or designing them. That included software development, as in FORTRAN IV. Yeah, real old stuff. The first digital computers back then were also tube operated! So, while that was happening, we didn't consider outlives as pioneers, but we were.

I think the first PC I had was one I build, an Altair 8800. It did absolutely nothing but store an assembly program on LEDS on the front panel. I had to design some I/O stuff to see if would talk to a keyboard. Then I gave up and bought an Osborne–I PC. It did a little more than nothing but did have a C/PM assembler and BASIC program. I thought I was in hog heaven until I found a guy who made 286 PCs. It was all uphill from then on.

So, the first word processor is long forgotten, maybe Wordstar or similar. Just like everyone else I have fought Microsoft weird software and weirder updates since. At some point many of us just give up, turn off updates and use a PC for what it pretends to do. The WinWord problem is most likely some dumb that I did with I installed it, but whatever it was it slipped by me. By then all I wanted was to write papers and stuff, not deal with software development. Those days were long gone. Sorry for the diatribe, I'm getting old and weird.

jeffbeish said:

I think the first PC I had was one I build, an Altair 8800. It did absolutely nothing but store an assembly program on LEDS on the front panel. I had to design some I/O stuff to see if would talk to a keyboard. Then I gave up and bought an Osborne–I PC. It did a little more than nothing but did have a C/PM assembler and BASIC program. I thought I was in hog heaven until I found a guy who made 286 PCs. It was all uphill from then on.

So, the first word processor is long forgotten, maybe Wordstar or similar. Just like everyone else I have fought Microsoft weird software and weirder updates since. At some point many of us just give up, turn off updates and use a PC for what it pretends to do. The WinWord problem is most likely some dumb that I did with I installed it, but whatever it was it slipped by me. By then all I wanted was to write papers and stuff, not deal with software development. Those days were long gone. Sorry for the diatribe, I'm getting old and weird.

Click to expand...

You should have held onto the Altair 8800. It is probably worth a lot of money today. It was considered the first home computer when it was introduced in the January 1975 issue of Popular Electronics. Here is a picture I took of the front cover.



There was such a demand for the Altair 8800 that another company started selling the Imsai 8080 which was a clone of the Altair 8800. I have never seen a Altair 8800 but did work with a couple Imsai 8080s when I worked at NASA. The Imsai 8080s we had had 64KB RAM and two 8-inch floppy drives. It looked like this. Note the computer sat on top of the floppy drives.



These computers ran the IMDOS O/S which was based on CP/M O/S. For programming we used CBasic 2.0 and Fortran IV. I never liked line by line editors. I believed I used the Wordmaster editor. Later on I used WordStar 3.0. I liked WordStar so much I set up the secretaries to use it instead of using their IBM Selectric typewriters.

The Imsai 8080 was famous because it was used in the 1983 movie WarGames. It was David's home computer. Here is a screenshot of this computer as shown of the movie:



I never had a computer like that at home. My first home computer was a Radio Shack TRS-80 Model I that I bought it in 1979. I added a 5-1/4" floppy drive and 2 x 8" floppy drives. I also added a board so I could also boot to CP/M 2.2.