The Microsoft Office 2003 Service Pack 3 has been released a bit more than a month ago and is already beginning to cause problems for several users who applied the Service Pack. I would think that a Service Pack adds functionality and fixes security vulnerabilities. This one apparently blocks old file formats from being loaded by Microsoft Office applications.
Affected are documents that have been created with old versions of Word, Excel, Powerpoint, Corel Draw and Lotus Notes dating back to the pre-Office 97 era. This won’t be a problem for the majority of users but some, like me, will question the purpose of blocking those old document formats.
Microsoft is claiming security reasons for the blocking. The old file formats can apparently be used to execute malicious code. Instead of fixing the security holes they decided to block the file formats, the Download Squad calls them lazy, I would prefer the term incurious though.
Instead of giving the user the choice to enable or disable these old document formats he has no other choice but to edit the Registry or download a tool from Microsoft that changes the Registry for him.
It is interesting to note that only Microsoft Office 2003 SP3 can’t open those old file types while third party software like Open Office can open them without difficulties.
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Typical of them – they couldn’t care less about the needs of the consumer.
I’m sure later on they will start blocking more recent file formats and try to force everyone to move to a “better” format.
M$$$
So, you have newer hardware, newer software (SP3), newer operating system, and NOW the file formats are insecure and deserve blocking?????
OMG i have been in danger since 1997!