Microsoft Interference

[rflulling]

Has any one else been seeing issues with Microsoft preventing Open Office from Launching, or even erasing Open Office user so the registration is broken?

Issue 1: When launching a new instance, from a saved file, the application will launch then vanish. It's hidden or suppressed. I have to go into the Task Manager and close open instances. When this happens, I have to open a new instance from the Open Office Launcher then navigate to the file from within the application menus. Now the file opens just file. Occasionally I might even get a message about the file being already opened or corrupted, but this is very rare. Typical is the opened instance is suppressed.

Issue2: Just today I opened an instance from the file and was greeted with a new user dialogue. That I have seen Open Office is the only program acting in this way.

Issue3: OF Conflict. This document uses an unspecified version of ODF. Would you like to update now or later?
Nearly forgot this issue and just added to the list. Popped up today when opening 5 files at once. 2 or 3 in it popped up the error. But i just made the files, by running save as over and over so they are all made today, with the same version, and have no changes other than a page number.

My work PC I use both Google office, Open office and Microsoft Office. Microsoft not by my choice, company to make files universal. However I am by far more familiar with Open Office and prefer several of the features, so actively use both, depending on who the file is for and how it will be used.

The application has been unloaded and reinstalled, even updated. Yet the issues continues. My assumption is that it's Microsoft being anti competitive, but that's an opinion. I am tired of this and hope the community may know more.

Hard Disk is a fairly recent Samsung EVO and it is checked daily for hardware issues that could lead to corruption or loss of data.
RAM has not been checked in several months but the issues predate the last check.

System Edition: Windows 10 Pro
System Version: 22H2
System Build: 19045.5131
Experience: 1000.19060.1000.0

Open Office: 4.1.1.5 (4.115.9813)
installed: 01/15/2024

[FJCC]

That you got the new user dialog maybe a step towards a solution. If the user profile gets corrupted, strange instability may occur. Since you just got that dialog today, wait to see if the problems persist.
I don't think Microsoft bothers with OpenOffice, but Windows will do things like install an update and reboot while the system is unattended. If you leave OpenOffice open all the time, that could lead to a profile corruption.

[Hagar Delest]

It may be a security application that deletes non trusted profiles (AOO profile not being assumed as a trusted one by the admin that configures such a list).
Else, you can try a portable version. Or try LibreOffice if the issue ends up being with AOO and not the system.

[RoryOF]

Sometimes MS updates silently change the default File Associations to change the default application for .doc, .docx .odt(?) and other formats back to MS Office.

[keme]

Sometimes MS updates silently change the default File Associations to change the default application for .doc, .docx .odt(?) and other formats back to MS Office.

True. At times the operation is silent. I find that lately, there is an alert given in the message area (talk bubble beside the time/date on taskbar), to the effect that "Windows Update has detected the configuration of an unreliable application, and reset associations to the default handler for some file types.".

Food for thought
I have seen this only for ODF file types and pdf. For ODF types it is mostly when LibreOffice is installed (rarely for Apache OpenOffice), and only for odt/odp/ods extensions, resetting to the relevant M365 apps whether they are installed/licensed on that workstation or not. For pdf I have only seen Adobe Reader deemed as unreliable. Never any of the third party apps we sometimes use. Default pdf reader is reset to Edge (yes, the web browser).

• Is this Microsoft trying to establish a sales point for M365, or is the FOSS suite legitimately deemed insecure?
• Is this Microsoft trying to collect additional info without needing to ask for consent, since Edge is so closely tied to Bing?

I believe so. I do not believe malevolence is involved. Only greed, and the notion that "if you previously stated you have nothing to hide, we may gather whatever info we can".

This has implications which perhaps do not belong in this section of the forums. I must refrain from political agitation

[RoryOF]

I have a memory that reallocation was reported on Forum for .doc, docx etc (MS formats) but as I don't use MS Office or Windows I have no recent personal knowledge of this.

[keme]

I have a memory that reallocation was reported on Forum for .doc, docx etc (MS formats) but as I don't use MS Office or Windows I have no recent personal knowledge of this.

You are correct, of course. I did not observe this, because our main platform at work is M365 so most computers are already set to use that for the MS-native formats. Didn't mean to deny your previous statement about this, albeit it appears that I did.

[RoryOF]

Didn't mean to deny your previous statement about this, albeit it appears that I did.

Even Homer nods! And I forgive you!

[LastUnicorn]

I just got a new PC which is Windows 11. So I'm now getting used to only working in a Win11 system. I installed LibreOffice to the system but to get the defaults for file types enforced properly it was outright necessary to visit Windows Settings > Apps > Default Apps > LibreOffice 24.2 and make (effectively 'enforce') the assignments in there. After doing that I tested that all the most basic of ODF file types were opening fine in LibreOffice, seemed okay, and I thought that would be the end of the story but it wasn't.

On a later date I double-clicked an .odt document and Windows is asking me the default for opening it. It offered 'Microsoft 365' with LibreOffice as a 'sub-selection' — I chose LibreOffice and 'Always' and from there on in the assignment seems to have stuck. That said, in order to help this on its way I then uninstalled 'Microsoft 365 (Office)' (which on this new computer would only be a Trial version) which I'll never use anyway.

Now that is done I am now wondering if the entry for LibreOffice in 'Default Apps' being labelled as 'LibreOffice 24.2' is going to be a problem. Soon it will be time to upgrade my LibreOffice Still from something 24.2 to something 24.8. And, if I do that, I wonder what will happen in 'Default Apps' if there is a LibreOffice name-change in there to 'LibreOffice 24.8)? Will that invalidate the 'LibreOffice' settings for assignments in there? I guess I'll just have to wait see what the answer to that will be as I'm not going to experiment to find out.

Unlike keme I do think that Microsoft is being malicious in much of what it does. It is though also involved with greed and an attitude that your data is our data.

[RoryOF]

I moved to linux years ago and never regretted it.

My preference is for Xubuntu. I recently tried Manjaro and was quite impressed - however, Xubuntu found and installed all my printers, Manjaro didn't, and I ran out of time and patience and ditched the temporary Manjaro installation.

However, the linux distro to use is a personal choice.

[rflulling]

Now that is done I am now wondering if the entry for LibreOffice in 'Default Apps' being labelled as 'LibreOffice 24.2' is going to be a problem. Soon it will be time to upgrade my LibreOffice Still from something 24.2 to something 24.8. And, if I do that, I wonder what will happen in 'Default Apps' if there is a LibreOffice name-change in there to 'LibreOffice 24.8)? Will that invalidate the 'LibreOffice' settings for assignments in there? I guess I'll just have to wait see what the answer to that will be as I'm not going to experiment to find out.

Your changes should be safe. In most cases this gets messed up when you install a new program. They will ask to take control over many files, where a file type may not be exclusive to their application. This is when the settings can be lost even set manually. I don't know a way to lock the settings.

Unlike keme I do think that Microsoft is being malicious in much of what it does. It is though also involved with greed and an attitude that your data is our data.

To a degree Google started this. I think they were the first to say that your data is their data. That if you saved to the online storage they were taking custody of it. Legally it makes some sense, if a court could find them liable for what you upload anyway. But they took it a step further and said that any data you save could then be used by them for advertising and shared with 3rd parties. That data is also scanned and evaluated for malicious or illegal activity, that can and has lead to an account be banned and loss of data.

Microsoft, has employed all of the same tricks but with less security unless you employ the Vault Technology. Google cannot come on to your computer, but they with your phone or online files. Microsoft says they can enter into your computer at any time without prior written notice, copy save, edit or erase files. Then they turn around and act like they are the only ones with clean hands... Umm, no. They literally watch everything we do in Windows, though by algorithm not actual eyes.

[rflulling]

That you got the new user dialog maybe a step towards a solution. If the user profile gets corrupted, strange instability may occur. Since you just got that dialog today, wait to see if the problems persist.
I don't think Microsoft bothers with OpenOffice, but Windows will do things like install an update and reboot while the system is unattended. If you leave OpenOffice open all the time, that could lead to a profile corruption.

I hope this is all it is but that its been happening at home and work is concerning. It is very annoying to have to open a file over and over to get it to launch or to have to close the app and find the file.

I will refill the welcome to open office prompt. I hope to not see it again until the next update or reinstall.

[rflulling]

Issue3: OF Conflict. This document uses an unspecified version of ODF. Would you like to update now or later?
Nearly forgot this issue and just added to the list. Popped up today when opening 5 files at once. 2 or 3 in it popped up the error. But i just made the files, by running save as over and over so they are all made today, with the same version, and have no changes other than a page number.

[rflulling]

So its been a few months. As I am starting to need to go back into files I generated in open office I am seeing a new wave of suppression.

On both my home and work PC the software was removed and reinstalled. On PC that have never had MS office installed there is no issue and the software works as expected. For now. Mind some of the previous mentioned issues. Quiet for now.

What I am seeing now is that only files Launched from within an active instance of Open Office are permitted.

I can clip 20 files and right click open. Then watch in task manager as open office Open Office Calc are launching. Then all at once they close. There is no error in the logs. It's rather like watching windows terminate a command prompt terminal a second after launch. "Ohh you weren't supposed to see that, closed."

To me, the way this seems to only effect systems with Office installed, is suspect.
Open Office launches. But immediately closes without error, when a file is used to launch an instance.

[Rizwan Akhtar]

It doesn’t sound like Microsoft is directly blocking OpenOffice; those symptoms are more often linked to compatibility or profile issues on Windows 10. A few things you can try:

Run OpenOffice in Safe Mode or as Administrator to see if the launch issue disappears.

Completely reset your OpenOffice user profile (rename the AppData\Roaming\OpenOffice folder so it creates a fresh one).

Make sure you’re on the latest Apache OpenOffice 4.1.15 build or try LibreOffice, which is actively maintained and tends to play nicer with Windows updates.

Check your antivirus or security policies, some endpoint protection tools quarantine OpenOffice executables or their temp files.

This usually clears up the “hidden instance” and “new user” dialogs without needing to blame Windows itself.