What's wrong with my Word/Excel files not opening

I have been having problems with some Word and Excel files not opening within the last week or two. The error tonight said... "This file is not in a recognizable format."

I should mention, I have been using this PC with XP running on it, but that's a browser and I can't see why that would affect Word and Excel. Also, it's been working up until the last week or two.

So I made a copy of the file and let the copy open and it has this kind of jibberish instead of text. {I®úocVÛϵ€‰¤‰yº[çCØhAÓ‘µÐ;Î'=×Å÷

Any ideas would be appreciated.

 

What is your installed Office version?

Also, are these files .doc/.xls or .docx/.xlsx files?

 

:confused Huh? Windows XP is an operating system, not a browser.

 

That's what you get when you have a rebellious teen living with you... an absent minded brain. I know it's not a browser, just stated it's what's running the pc.

It's Word/Excel 2000 and it's .doc/.xls documents. Here's goes another one this morning.

Thanks for your help.

 

BTW usafveteran, thanks for your service to our country. My nephew is stationed at Dover, DE. God bless.

 

Did you create these files with Office 2000 on your computer, or did someone send them to you via email?

 

Yes, I've created them in this software and have opened them many times. I got another error saying the converter file, wswrd632.wpc, couldn't be opened.

Thanks for your help.

 

If it is mswrd632.wpc and not wswrd632.wpc, you might try this
http://helpdeskgeek.com/office-tips/word-cannot-start-the-converter-mswrd632-wpc/