Microsoft Word tries to re-install it self every time I click on the short cut icon?

Question

I am using a Windows XP machine. It has Microsoft Office Basic Edition 2003 installed. There is a short cut icon on the desk top (not just a regular icon). When I click on it it tries to re-install Word. It usually takes 2 or 3 attempt to work.

When it fails it reports Error 1309 (error while reading from drive D (backup drive)).

Any suggestions?

I do not see why a regular would help, but would that help?

Answer 1

1.  It sounds like the "shortcut" is pointing to the install program, not the installed program.

2.  Usually when you get a new computer, it will have the "shortcut" to install the program and then once the program is installed you should have an icon on the desktop for running it.  

--Sometimes this automatically deletes the shortcut to the install program, so that only the "program" icon is on the desktop.

--Sometimes you have to delete or more the shortcut so that you don't mix them up.

Does Microsoft office show up in your "All Programs" directory?  Does the icon work there (start the program, not the install)?

--Will watch for additional details and update then.  

Answer 2

Where is the shortcut pointing to?  Find out the exact location of the application on C:\ and create a new shortcut to that, then delete the old shortcut.  That ought to work.

Answer 3

Does it do the same thing if you try to access the program through the Start menu?

Did you buy the program or did it come pre-installed?  If it was pre-installed then chances are that you were only given a partial program.

It's also possible that you've inadvertently uninstalled a file the program needs to operate, or that a needed file has corrupted itself.

If you own the program, then simply uninstall it and reinstall it.

Answer 4

if you go through start->programs->office->ms word does it work?

It sounds like the shortcut is actually a shortcut to the install file which it expects to be on the D drive (probably your cd rom drive).  Delete the shortcut, and create a new one by dragging ms-word from the start menu to the desktop.

you can also find it by going to my computer -> c drive -> program files and locating it there.