Windows 7: Can't save docs that are Word 2007 after downloading 2010-HELP!!

I've just downloaded Student and Home Office 2010, and for some reason I now cannot open documnents that are Word 2007. I also cannot save work onto my memory stick, as for some reason, it saves the document as Word 2007, even though I am doing the work on Word 2010! (I only ever had a trial version of 2007, never the whole thing and it is no longer on my comp) I am starting a history course soon, and their online docs are 2007, and again, I can't open them. A message pops up saying that 'the file does not have a programme associated with it for perfoming this action' thats what pops up every time. Can someone tell me what on earth I need to do to rectify this? Thanks so much!!

Estella Welcome to SevenForums,

Right-click on one of the .DOC files
Choose Open with
Select Choose Default Program

Do you see Word in the resulting display?
Here is a snip of what I see.

If you don't then, using the browse button, navigate to:
C:\Program Files\Microsoft Office\Office14\Winword.exe

Welcome to Windows Seven Forums.

Please download and install the Microsoft Office 2007/2010 Compatibility Pack.

Microsoft Office Compatibility Pack for Word, Excel, and PowerPoint - Products - Office.com

You can also click on Start>Default Programs and set your defaults from there.

Thanks everyone for trying to help. I'm afraid nothing works. I already have the compatibility pack, but that is doing nothing, and I can't open them by right clicking and opening them that wat either. It just does nothing or that annoying box pops up saying I don't have an file associated with it and to make one in the default panel. I have tried this, but Office 2010 doesn't even show up there. All that comes up is Excel 2010. This is so frustrating!!

When it doesnt show up you can browse for it.

Look in: C:\Program Files\Microsoft Office\Office14 and choose winword.exe (you may not see the .exe bit but it will have the expected icon) make sure you tick the box to always open files of this type with this application.

Oh, just spotted Karlsnooks already gave you that advice.

did you follow my advice? Yes/no

Hi Estella, so sorry for your frustration. Since you've just downloaded the Office 2010 I'm wondering whether the download (installation) was corrupted. Why don't you try uninstalling it, shutting down, rebooting and then reinstalling it. If you decide to do so, be sure to back up your personal files on an external source before you start the process.

Are you able to open the doc from inside word 2010, meaning open word, and go to open under the file menu and browse to the doc you are trying to open?

In my experience with Windows 7, it didn't always give me a browse button in the opens with window. I remember having quite a time setting seamonkey to be my default email application. It didn't appear in the list of options and there was no browse feature to locate it. I have also had the right click/open with, option not work at all for other applications. You can't just say "open with this app" you have to add the app to the list of open with options and then select the app as an option. I have browsed to the app I wanted and selected it, but after selecting, the app still didn't appear in the list of options, so there was no way to run it with "open with".

LMHmedchem