Force Word 2010 backwards compatibility to 2003 for all users

[rxd]

Does anyone know of a way to force Word 2010 to save all files as .doc files not .docx for any user that ever logs in to a pc?

I know it's simple to save this setting for a given user but I need to do it for everyone that ever sits at a given pc....

Thanks

 

[Neutron16]

I would create a file doc.reg and save it in C:\whatEverLocation\

Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00 
[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Office\14.0\Word\Options] 
"DefaultFormat"="DOC"

Than I would start a Task Schedule (taskschd.msc) and "Create Task"
(NOT Basic task!!!).

Check "Run with highest privileges" on General tab.
Triggers tab: At log on - Any user.
Actions tab: Start a program.
. Program/script: %windir%\System32\regedt32.exe
. Add arguments (optional): /s "C:\whatEverLocation\doc.reg"

Reg file gives us desired setting in a file form that can be easily imported for any current user.
12.0 is for Office 2007
14.0 is for Office 2010
15.0 is for Office 2013

Task schedule allows us to create a task that will run for any user of the current Windows system with administrative privileges (when corresponding options are selected).
regedt32 will import desired setting for the current user silently (/s).

User can still change this option manually later on, but the next time this user log in, the same setting from the file will be imported and user's custom setting will be overridden.

 

[Lady Fitzgerald]

An easier way that doesn't involve horsing around with the registry is to open Word 2010, click on the File tab at the top right, then click Options toward the bottom of the menu that pops up. In the Options menu the pops up, click on Save on the right, then, at the top, select the file format you want to save to, using the down arrow on the right end of the box to drop down a list of extensions to choose from.

 

[Neutron16]

An easier way that doesn't involve horsing around with the registry is to open Word 2010, click on the File tab at the top right, then click Options toward the bottom of the menu that pops up. In the Options menu the pops up, click on Save on the right, then, at the top, select the file format you want to save to, using the down arrow on the right end of the box to drop down a list of extensions to choose from.

Great job doing detailed instruction, Lady Fitzgerald. But I am sorry, your post does not answer OP's question at all.
I believe that user rxd is asking how to AVOID doing what you just described for all and every user of a computer, even those future users that have not been created yet.

At least that is what "force for any user that ever logs in to a pc" means to me...

 

[rxd]

Exactly Neutron16. This is what I desperately need to avoid. I have no idea what user will be using what pc now or in the future. But they must use Word in 2003 compatibility mode. We can't be mixing up different Word versions in our system.

 

[Neutron16]

Exactly Neutron16. This is what I desperately need to avoid. I have no idea what user will be using what pc now or in the future. But they must use Word in 2003 compatibility mode. We can't be mixing up different Word versions in our system.

Have you tried my solution? I've tested it on Win8.1 and Office 2013.

 

[rxd]

I did some quick tests and this seems to work great.

Tomorrow when the office opens again (snow day again in NY) I will be able to try it with real users.

Thanks