[Solved] Can't get OOo to work after several reinstalls

[celtikid1066]

I've been successfully and gratefully using OpenOffice since early 2005 or so on my Dell running XP. For whatever reason I noticed a couple of months ago that I wasn't able to open documents properly. The documents would open, but I have not been able to modify them, or use the word processing feature for new documents. Basically, the application appears to "freeze." I've tried to uninstall and reinstall several times, to no avail. I bought some tune up/diagnostic software as well, and ran a full gamut of cleanup tasks, including a registry cleaner -- but again to no avail. I'm really desperate to get Open Office up and running again, as I have quite a few documents saved. I'll probably be getting a new PC before long, but it might be several more months, and I sure as heck would like to be able to get some work done before then. Anyway, here's the error message I keep getting:

The personal configuration file 'file:///c:/Documents%20and%20Settings/Owner/Applicaiton%20Data/OpenOffice.org2/user/registry/data/org/openoffice/Office/Recovery.xcu' is corrupted and must be deleted to continue. Some of your personal settings may be lost. Do you want to continue startup of OppenOffice.org without the corrupted configuration data?

FWIW, I have "answered" both yes and no to the above question, and it doesn't seem to work either way. Any pointers, needless to say, are greatly appreciated. Thanks in advance!

[celtikid1066]

...and just to be slightly more specific:

a) OOo is not working in any of its applications. I mostly just use the word processor and spreadsheet, but I just checked "math" and couldn't get that to open properly either.

b) When I do try to open and existing WP doc or spreadseet, the document itself will open (after prompting me with the above referenced error message, and when I tell the computer to continue), and I can see it on my screen, but the moment I do a keystroke or mouseclick, everything freezes, and I get a "not responding" message at the top of my screen.

c) I'm using XP verision 2002 with service pack 2.

[Villeroy]

Move or rename entire directory 'file:///c:/Documents%20and%20Settings/Owner/Applicaiton%20Data/OpenOffice.org2/
Next time you start the office it will create a completely new user profile from scratch.

[celtikid1066]

Thanks for your reply. I can't quite figure out how to accomplish what you're suggesting. What I've done thus far is:

1) go to my desktop
2) access the start menu
3) navigate to "my computer"
4) open "Local Disk (c)"
5) and then open the "Documents and Settings" folder
6) I see a folder inside that called "owner" but, when I open it, I don't see any folder marked "applications".

Am I on the right track? There's another folder within "Docments and Settings" called "All users" but there's no "applications" folder inside there, either. I'm stumped

[Villeroy]

If you are logged in as user "Owner", you should be able to access a folder named
C:/Documents and Settings/Owner/Application Data/OpenOffice.org2/
May be it is hidden(?). I don't administrate any Windows since many years. There should be some option to show files and folders which are hidden by default.
You could also create a new user account and try to start OOo as the new user. If this fails then I would guess that your download went wrong.

[thomasjk]

Open My Computer. Then select Tools---->Folder Options from the tool bar. Click the View Tab. Under Advanced Settings make sure that That under Hidden Files and Folders the button next to "Show Hidden Files and Folders" is selected. Click OK. Now open your Documents and settings folder and double click on your username. You should now see an "Application Data" folder. Open that folder and find the folder named OpenOffice.org2 and rename it to Openoffice.org2old. Restart the OpenOffice installation.

[celtikid1066]

You were exactly right. I was able to tell windows that I wanted to "view" folders normally hidden, and that did the trick. I dragged the folder onto t he desktop, changed its name, and "presto" -- OOo now works like a charm.

Many thanks!