how to recover backup word files garbled squares

I did a search and could not find anything specific to my question.
Yesterday I did a backup of my document files onto a dvd. After formatting
the hard drive I transferred th files back from the dvd to the computer but
once transferred, I tried to open them (first on the computer then direct
from the dvd).
Every file opened with square box characters intead of text. I have tried
opening in other file formats but to no avail. the version on that computer
MS Word 2003.

Would appreciate urgent help
Bridget

Have you reinstalled all of the printer drivers (along with setting a
default printer, fonts, and all other drivers for your computer that you had
installed before your rebuild of the OS?

The boxes in Word or other programs normally indicate that it is attempting
to open a file without the original font installed and the program is using
another font that doesn't have the same characters in it.


"Bridget" <Bridget@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
news:223A057B-DE13-4970-9A46-93A6CE6CA5F0@microsoft.com...
>
> I did a search and could not find anything specific to my question.
> Yesterday I did a backup of my document files onto a dvd. After formatting
> the hard drive I transferred th files back from the dvd to the computer
> but
> once transferred, I tried to open them (first on the computer then direct
> from the dvd).
> Every file opened with square box characters intead of text. I have tried
> opening in other file formats but to no avail. the version on that
> computer
> MS Word 2003.
>
> Would appreciate urgent help
> Bridget
>

Thanks, but I have since noticed that the problem seems to be on all files
(jpg, mp3, mpeg, pdf, etc), not just MSOffice files...could this problem be
because somehow the dvd didn't record properly? any idea how I retrieve the
origina data? I realise this is a MS discussion group, but any links or
suggestions most gratefully received.

"LVTravel" wrote:

> Have you reinstalled all of the printer drivers (along with setting a
> default printer, fonts, and all other drivers for your computer that you had
> installed before your rebuild of the OS?
>
> The boxes in Word or other programs normally indicate that it is attempting
> to open a file without the original font installed and the program is using
> another font that doesn't have the same characters in it.
>
>
> "Bridget" <Bridget@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
> news:223A057B-DE13-4970-9A46-93A6CE6CA5F0@microsoft.com...
> >
> > I did a search and could not find anything specific to my question.
> > Yesterday I did a backup of my document files onto a dvd. After formatting
> > the hard drive I transferred th files back from the dvd to the computer
> > but
> > once transferred, I tried to open them (first on the computer then direct
> > from the dvd).
> > Every file opened with square box characters intead of text. I have tried
> > opening in other file formats but to no avail. the version on that
> > computer
> > MS Word 2003.
> >
> > Would appreciate urgent help
> > Bridget
> >
>
>
>

If this is files other than office documents, your file associations are
incorrectly set. To open an image (.jpg, bmp, etc.) an audio or video file
(.mpeg, mp3) or PDF file you need the proper type of software installed
(image program, audio or video program, or PDF reader program installed) and
the file association for that type of file assigned to that program. Since
this is an office group I assumed you meant that a Word or Excel file would
not open properly in my first response.

If you start Word and click Insert, Pictures from files, does the .jpg file
insert into the blank Word document correctly? If so the file isn't
corrupt, just the association wrong. If the mpg or mpeg file doesn't open
in Windows Media Player, the association is incorrect for that.

Search either Windows help or Google in reference to setting appropriate
file associations in Windows.

Hope this helps, let us know.


"Bridget" <Bridget@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
news:13743A89-EBB2-4AC6-9B8D-5B6684B7EF82@microsoft.com...
> Thanks, but I have since noticed that the problem seems to be on all files
> (jpg, mp3, mpeg, pdf, etc), not just MSOffice files...could this problem
> be
> because somehow the dvd didn't record properly? any idea how I retrieve
> the
> origina data? I realise this is a MS discussion group, but any links or
> suggestions most gratefully received.
>
> "LVTravel" wrote:
>
>> Have you reinstalled all of the printer drivers (along with setting a
>> default printer, fonts, and all other drivers for your computer that you
>> had
>> installed before your rebuild of the OS?
>>
>> The boxes in Word or other programs normally indicate that it is
>> attempting
>> to open a file without the original font installed and the program is
>> using
>> another font that doesn't have the same characters in it.
>>
>>
>> "Bridget" <Bridget@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
>> news:223A057B-DE13-4970-9A46-93A6CE6CA5F0@microsoft.com...
>> >
>> > I did a search and could not find anything specific to my question.
>> > Yesterday I did a backup of my document files onto a dvd. After
>> > formatting
>> > the hard drive I transferred th files back from the dvd to the computer
>> > but
>> > once transferred, I tried to open them (first on the computer then
>> > direct
>> > from the dvd).
>> > Every file opened with square box characters intead of text. I have
>> > tried
>> > opening in other file formats but to no avail. the version on that
>> > computer
>> > MS Word 2003.
>> >
>> > Would appreciate urgent help
>> > Bridget
>> >
>>
>>
>>

I had also assumed it was an office document problem, although I had already
ruled out font problems and wrong file associations ... only later did I
realise the extent of the the problem... I will persevere!

For the record, although your answers were unable to resolve my specific
problem, they were helpful and, in my case, it was very gratifying to receive
such prompt replies.

Thank you!

"LVTravel" wrote:

> If this is files other than office documents, your file associations are
> incorrectly set. To open an image (.jpg, bmp, etc.) an audio or video file
> (.mpeg, mp3) or PDF file you need the proper type of software installed
> (image program, audio or video program, or PDF reader program installed) and
> the file association for that type of file assigned to that program. Since
> this is an office group I assumed you meant that a Word or Excel file would
> not open properly in my first response.
>
> If you start Word and click Insert, Pictures from files, does the .jpg file
> insert into the blank Word document correctly? If so the file isn't
> corrupt, just the association wrong. If the mpg or mpeg file doesn't open
> in Windows Media Player, the association is incorrect for that.
>
> Search either Windows help or Google in reference to setting appropriate
> file associations in Windows.
>
> Hope this helps, let us know.
>
>
> "Bridget" <Bridget@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
> news:13743A89-EBB2-4AC6-9B8D-5B6684B7EF82@microsoft.com...
> > Thanks, but I have since noticed that the problem seems to be on all files
> > (jpg, mp3, mpeg, pdf, etc), not just MSOffice files...could this problem
> > be
> > because somehow the dvd didn't record properly? any idea how I retrieve
> > the
> > origina data? I realise this is a MS discussion group, but any links or
> > suggestions most gratefully received.
> >
> > "LVTravel" wrote:
> >
> >> Have you reinstalled all of the printer drivers (along with setting a
> >> default printer, fonts, and all other drivers for your computer that you
> >> had
> >> installed before your rebuild of the OS?
> >>
> >> The boxes in Word or other programs normally indicate that it is
> >> attempting
> >> to open a file without the original font installed and the program is
> >> using
> >> another font that doesn't have the same characters in it.
> >>
> >>
> >> "Bridget" <Bridget@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
> >> news:223A057B-DE13-4970-9A46-93A6CE6CA5F0@microsoft.com...
> >> >
> >> > I did a search and could not find anything specific to my question.
> >> > Yesterday I did a backup of my document files onto a dvd. After
> >> > formatting
> >> > the hard drive I transferred th files back from the dvd to the computer
> >> > but
> >> > once transferred, I tried to open them (first on the computer then
> >> > direct
> >> > from the dvd).
> >> > Every file opened with square box characters intead of text. I have
> >> > tried
> >> > opening in other file formats but to no avail. the version on that
> >> > computer
> >> > MS Word 2003.
> >> >
> >> > Would appreciate urgent help
> >> > Bridget
> >> >
> >>
> >>
> >>
>
>
>

On May 6, 1:15*am, Bridget <Brid...@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote:
> I had also assumed it was an office document problem, although I had already
> ruled out font problems and wrong file associations ... only later did I
> realise the extent of the the problem... I will persevere!
>
> For the record, although your answers were unable to resolve my specific
> problem, they were helpful and, in my case, it was very gratifying to receive
> such prompt replies.
>
> Thank you!
>
>
>
> "LVTravel" wrote:
> > If this is files other than office documents, your file associations are
> > incorrectly set. *To open an image (.jpg, bmp, etc.) an audio or video file
> > (.mpeg, mp3) or PDF file you need the proper type of software installed
> > (image program, audio or video program, or PDF reader program installed) and
> > the file association for that type of file assigned to that program. *Since
> > this is an office group I assumed you meant that a Word or Excel file would
> > not open properly in my first response.
>
> > If you start Word and click Insert, Pictures from files, does the .jpg file
> > insert into the blank Word document correctly? *If so the file isn't
> > corrupt, just the association wrong. *If the mpg or mpeg file doesn't open
> > in Windows Media Player, the association is incorrect for that.
>
> > Search either Windows help or Google in reference to setting appropriate
> > file associations in Windows.
>
> > Hope this helps, let us know.
>
> > "Bridget" <Brid...@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
> >news:13743A89-EBB2-4AC6-9B8D-5B6684B7EF82@microsoft.com...
> > > Thanks, but I have since noticed that the problem seems to be on all files
> > > (jpg, mp3, mpeg, pdf, etc), not just MSOffice files...could this problem
> > > be
> > > because somehow the dvd didn't record properly? any idea how I retrieve
> > > the
> > > origina data? I realise this is a MS discussion group, but any links or
> > > suggestions most gratefully received.
>
> > > "LVTravel" wrote:
>
> > >> Have you reinstalled all of the printer drivers (along with setting a
> > >> default printer, fonts, and all other drivers for your computer that you
> > >> had
> > >> installed before your rebuild of the OS?
>
> > >> The boxes in Word or other programs normally indicate that it is
> > >> attempting
> > >> to open a file without the original font installed and the program is
> > >> using
> > >> another font that doesn't have the same characters in it.
>
> > >> "Bridget" <Brid...@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
> > >>news:223A057B-DE13-4970-9A46-93A6CE6CA5F0@microsoft.com...
>
> > >> > I did a search and could not find anything specific to my question..
> > >> > Yesterday I did a backup of my document files onto a dvd. After
> > >> > formatting
> > >> > the hard drive I transferred th files back from the dvd to the computer
> > >> > but
> > >> > once transferred, I tried to open them (first on the computer then
> > >> > direct
> > >> > from the dvd).
> > >> > Every file opened with square box characters intead of text. I have
> > >> > tried
> > >> > opening in other file formats but to no avail. the version on that
> > >> > computer
> > >> > MS Word 2003.
>
> > >> > Would appreciate urgent help
> > >> > Bridget- Hide quoted text -
>
> - Show quoted text -

Hi,

Sounds like the word file is damaged. Maybe you can try some
professional services if necessary. There is a tool called Advanced
Word Repair. I have used it to repair many corrupt Word documents on
my damaged disks successfully. Its homepage is http://www.datanumen.com/awr/
I'm not sure whether it works for your problem, but you may just try
the free demo.

Alan