When you attempt to open a .DOC file that came as a mail attachment in Windows Mail or Windows Live Mail, the following error may occur and the document does not open. This may happen even though you have Microsoft Word installed. Also, the same file may open correctly when saved to disk and then viewed. This article and the utility discussed below, are applicable for Windows® Vista and Windows® 7 systems with Microsoft® Word installed.

[Error Message]

This file does not have a program associated with it for performing this action. Create an association in the Set Associations control panel.

To fix the problem, download DocFix.zip and save it to Desktop.

Unzip the contents (docfix.exe and readme.txt), and run the file DocFix.exe.

When you are prompted for an administrator password or confirmation, type the password or provide confirmation.

Important: After running the fix, in some cases, you’ll need to open StartDefault ProgramsAssociate a file type or protocol… and reset .doc file type association for Microsoft Word even though it may be already associated with Microsoft Word.

If that does not fix the problem, see if repairing Microsoft Word helps.


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16 Comments

  1. Jan Hansen
    said this on Tuesday, September 14th 2010 10:48 am

    Very good, worked first time, instantly!

    I’m using Win 7 and Windows live mail (32 bit), sometimes I’ve only got the mail header, the mail has disappeared, and that’s the same with my imported contacts, they all disappear now and then, annoying! any ideas?

  2. Audrey McVean
    said this on Friday, August 13th 2010 8:42 pm

    For some reason, the file would not extract properly. I have AVG running as anti-virus, and ran the file as Administrator. Any help would be appreciated. Microsoft .NET Framework comes up and says an attempt to perform an operation not allowed by the security policy.
    It says to contact system administration (which I am) or use Microsoft .NET Framework Configuration Tool. Don’t know where or how to do this.

    I am running Vista-32bit on an HP with lots of room on the hard drive, but I cannot get windows mail to open .doc opens everything else.

  3. Mejinks
    said this on Thursday, May 6th 2010 3:00 am

    This worked brilliantly. I’m having so many of these little issues with windows 7, I wonder if it was worth all the hassle of upgrading.

    Many thanks

  4. Mark
    said this on Thursday, April 8th 2010 3:27 pm

    Thanks very much, this problem was driving me mad. Works great on Word 2007 with Windows 7

  5. Jason
    said this on Monday, March 29th 2010 12:30 pm

    Hi,
    As what Trendon replied, Win 7 users please use unassoc 1.4, delete .doc association. Not the “User option” but the second button. You must delete not unassociate. Then please reassociate under Control Panel, Default Program. Worked like a charm.

    You will notice that the associated file icon for .doc will change once it is done properly.

  6. maddy
    said this on Sunday, March 28th 2010 8:23 pm

    Thankyou. I was searching for something like this for hours. Worked great with Vista.

  7. Trendon
    said this on Friday, March 26th 2010 3:19 am

    Windows 7 Users… Run Unassoc 1.4, delete .doc and reassociate.

  8. Rolf Guenther
    said this on Saturday, March 20th 2010 6:22 pm

    Plase send me an e-mail, when DocFix update is avalailable for Windows 7.
    Thanks

  9. Allen
    said this on Monday, March 15th 2010 1:18 pm

    Are we any closer to getting DocFix for Windows 7? I’ve tried everything to fix this issue. Can’t see any reason why Windows Live Mail won’t open .doc attachments. All other attachements are OK. Can you tell me what DocFix actually does? Can I fix this RegEdit?

  10. Gaurav
    said this on Wednesday, February 24th 2010 1:04 am

    How do i open .doc attachments from WLM in N78(general mobiles)?

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