Within the past few days AOO has stopped working

[viningc]

I have been running Windows 11 with OO v4.1.15 for several months now until it stopped doing anything except allow me to gracefully exit if I had done nothing else. As soon as I realized OO had problems, I erased the entire program and installed OO v4.1.16. It showed the same symptoms!

First, I attempted to edit an older file that I had just finalized the previous day. It refused to load, and I was forced to shut down my computer to regain control. I spent over an hour trying to recover anything, as it was a 16-page, dense text document. The only thing I could safely accomplish once I started OO was to immediately shut it down.

Next, I erased v4.1.15 and installed the newer v4.1.16. I opened a text document and found it had the same problem! When I opened the text document, I attempted to set the Page parameters, only to have it lock my computer up solidly. I again had to power down my system to regain control.

Third, I erased the v4.1.16 and reinstalled v4.1.15 not only to verify that a new install still had problems but to make sure none of the "update" weren't causing problems. It still refused to run.

At that point, I had run out of options, so am now being forced to embarrass myself on the forum once again by admitting my lack of useful knowledge. I tried to upload a DxDiag.txt file, but it was too large. File size:171,265 bytes. Size on disk: 172,032 bytes.

I have 65536MB RAM, an NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5090 with 32101 MB Dedicated Memory and 36993 MB Shared Memory running 3440 x 1440 (32 bit) (240Hz) resolution on a Displayport connection to my monitor.

OK, I removed all the device driver information, because I just update every time it's required. I can add that to a later post if required. Now, the shortened DxDiag.txt file has been added as an attachment.

Please help, as I am 77 years old (I know, not relevant) and I suffered a stroke a few years ago and find OO extremely useful in creating legible text documents rather than being forced to write anything out.

[FJCC]

The fact that the problem continues after updating suggests that it's in the user profile, which carries over from an old installation. To reset the user profile.
1. Open any folder and enter
%appdata%\openoffice\4
in the address bar near the top of the folder window.
2. This will take you to a folder containing a folder named user. Rename that to user_old
3. Restart OpenOffice and you should get the registration screen. Fill that out and check if the problem continues.

[MrProgrammer]

I tried to upload a DxDiag.txt file, but it was too large. File size:171,265 bytes. Size on disk: 172,032 bytes.

The developers don't visit this forum. Diagnostic information in DxDiag.txt is of no value here.

Apache OpenOffice 4.1.5 on macOS 10.13.2
Apache OpenOffice 4.1.15 on Windows 11

Your forum signature says you also use MacOS. If this is incorrect, fix your forum signature in User Control Panel → Profile → Edit Signature. This ensures that you receive appropriate advice for your environment. The procedure for resetting the user profile is quite different for MacOS than for Windows.
Q02: How do I create a new profile on a Mac?

[LastUnicorn]

If resetting your User Profile doesn't work then try installing LibreOffice and see if you have better luck with that. There are several good reasons for making the switch anyway, some of which are mentioned here: [Tutorial] Considering a Switch from OpenOffice to LibreOffice? Some Useful Information

[RoryOF]

I don't use Windows so this is only a tentative suggestion:

Might the old trick of starting Windows in Safe Mode be a useful diagnostic?

Information on accessing Safe Mode is given at
https://www.digitalcitizen.life/windows-11-safe-mode

[RoryOF]

Note: All of viningc's previous postings have been Mac related, so in default of exact information from him on the operating system in use, probably all advice should be Mac centred.

[viningc]

I have just returned to my computer. My trouble is not with my Mac Mini, but from the looks of my sig, I also need to update my IOS system. I have not had a chance to attempt the proposed fix, but will be trying that shortly. I will report back on what happens.

In the line "%appdata%\openoffice\4" is it typed exactly as shown here or is something supposed to be a specific address for "%appdata%"?

[Added]
My App target is: "C:\Program Files (x86)\OpenOffice 4\program\soffice.exe"
The only place I could find to paste anything was a text search window ... which didn't seem to work for anything I input. Is there another entry point I missed?

[RoryOF]

Under Windows use the %appdata% etc line as given.

[viningc]

Please refer to my post above. I copied and pasted the text:

%appdata%\openoffice\4

In the text find window, but it did not do anything since I was using a new, empty document. I have a feeling the text find bar is the wrong place.

[Added}
OK, I finally figured out it was supposed to be the opening window, before you pick the text editor. I'm even more confused, there is no place to enter any text unless I open one of the menus at the top. Any further suggestion for a poor old man who is slowly loosing what's left of his mind. I cannot even touch type anymore with my mostly useless right arm. I am forced to use the Columbus Method of typing ...

I find a key (quay) and land on it!

[Added 2}
I will be quoting the first reply so I don't have to keep scrolling up to see it:

The fact that the problem continues after updating suggests that it's in the user profile, which carries over from an old installation. To reset the user profile.
1. Open any folder and enter
%appdata%\openoffice\4
in the address bar near the top of the folder window.
2. This will take you to a folder containing a folder named user. Rename that to user_old
3. Restart OpenOffice and you should get the registration screen. Fill that out and check if the problem continues.

From reading this more closely, I need to basically "remove" my user profile.
It also appears that I must open some form of document, presumably a text document.
I still cannot find an address bar near the top of the folder window.

I know I am going to feel really stupid once someone is able to explain all this to me. I almost feel that it would be better to do a deep clean of anything to do with OpenOffice before doing a clean install ...

[Added 3]
Wait, you aren't referring to my main systems user file on the C: drive, are you!? I did a search under OpenOffice 4 and there was no folder labeled "user". Please give explicit directions on how to make this work or I will be doing a deep wipe of OO so there is nothing left anywhere, even in the registry. That should remove any damaged files.

[FJCC]

My instructions have nothing to do with opening a text document. The goal is to navigate to a particular folder. You need to start by opening any folder. You can do this by opening the File Explorer from the Windows search bar or simply opening a folder like Documents. The attached image shows what I see if I open my Documents folder. In the image, the address bar shows
> This PC > Documents
Open a folder on your system, click in the same area and enter
%appdata%\OpenOffice\4
Then follow the rest of my instructions.

Folder.PNG (65.52 KiB) Viewed 1193 times

[viningc]

OK, I did as you suggested, and I had to re-register my copy of OO as you indicated.

Then I opened OO and selected Text Editor.

I selected Format and tried to change to Page, but OO was locked up solidly.

At least now, I don't have to use the on/off manual switch to shut down. Only OO is locked up, I can do a restart using my mouse to make the proper selections. If I could ignore the elephant in the room (OO window in text mode) I could do anything else.

I'm starting to think wiping OO from my registry might be the best option after all.

[Added]
I find it hard to believe there are so many places that appear when I type "openoffice" in the search window for my C: drive! I already moved the folder containing my OO install programs to a flash drive, but there are other occurrences that date back literally years. I'm going to get rid of them all, one way or another, before I tackle the registry.

Obviously, I cannot get rid of the .odt files, but hopefully that won't have any effect. I should probably also download a fresh copy of the OO install program, just to be safe.

[Hagar Delest]

You talk about having erased some folders at the beginning, do you mean AOO install folders? Moving such folders (last post) to a flash drive won't serve any purpose at all. I were you, I would use a freeware to clean the system from AOO and then install LibreOffice, so that the programs do not share too much.

Don't get rif of the .odt files, they are your text files! That's what you've done with AOO!

[viningc]

Thanks for the suggestion, but I'm afraid I'm too old to even think about trying to learn a new program.

I wish I had thought of using a third party program to remove AOO from my registry. I have been removing it manually and think I'm almost finished. I'm up to HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE so I'm hoping it won't take much more.

Just in case, since I saved a copy of the registry beforehand, what would be a good program to use to help strip out any such problems in the future ... or now if I find I didn't strip out enough?

[thomasjk]

http://www.revouninstaller.com/revo_uni ... nload.html

[viningc]

OK, an update, if you can call it that.
1. I used Revo Registry Cleaner to clean out any remaining instances of "OpenOffice". It didn't clean everything.
2. I used Regedit to verify and removed additional hidden items.
3. I reinstalled OpenOffice 4.1.16 with no apparent problems from a fresh download of v4.1.16.
4. I opened up OpenOffice and selected a blank text file.
5. Once the swrite file ran, I selected Format\Page.
6. I was able to select Footer, Header, and everything to the left until I tried to select Page.
7. OpenOffice lockup and I had to use windows to exit.
8. I used Revo Uninstaller Pro to remove everything to do with OpenOffice. It didn't get everything.
9. I Deleted the entire OpenOffice 4 folder I had installed the program under.
10. I used Revo Registry Cleaner to remove all instances to "OpenOffice". It didn't get them all.
11. I used Regedit to remove more.
12. I performed steps 3 to 7 with the exact same results.
13. I performed steps 8 to 11, and now I am once more OO free.

Please, does anyone have any further suggestions for OO v4.1.16? I cannot believe that my system is the only one with this problem.

[MrProgrammer]

now I am once more OO free

Did you delete the OpenOffice User Profile? If you are having trouble with OpenOffice and want to install it again, you should begin with a new user profile. Otherwise corruption in the old one will carry forward to any new OpenOffice installation. OpenOffice will create a new one for you if it can't find the old user profile after deletion.

I cannot believe that my system is the only one with this problem.

Others running Windows 11 have reported problems too.
Search found 25 matches: crash windows 11

[RoryOF]

Many of us have moved from Windows to linux, with increased stability. I made the move nearly twenty years ago and have never regretted it. Which linux disto one chooses is a matter of personal choice - I use Xubuntu, but there are many others.

[viningc]

Many of us have moved from Windows to Linux, with increased stability. I made the move nearly twenty years ago and have never regretted it. Which Linux disto one chooses is a matter of personal choice - I use Xubuntu, but there are many others.

I have two different distributions of Linux. One on an HD, the other on a flash drive. I use them so seldom that I can't even remember which ones they are. Unfortunately, the primary use for my Windows 11 system is games. Many of the games I have become 'addicted' to are not available on Linux.

I suppose I will have to update to a later version of OO for my Mac and use that for my game-centered documents. Luckily, they are almost side-by-side.

[Added]
Dang, it has been a while since I've backed up my 'DL_Games' folder, where I keep all the documentation for any game I've become interested in.

I hope they eventually find a fix for OO. I really dislike having to switch between computers.

[RoryOF]

On linux, starting OpenOffice in a terminal by typing openoffice4 gives a helpful diagnostic if OO does not start. I cannot say if this will work in a Windows terminal.