When I attempt to open a Word Document from either the Desktop or in My
Documents a dialogue box appears with the heading File Conversion - followed
by the file name which ends in .doc.  Below this it reads 'Select the
encoding that makes your document readable and three options; Windows
(Default); MS-DOS and Other encoding.  The Windows is automatically
highlighted.

Whatever I try to do to resolve the issue the document always opens in
unreadable form?  I don't understand what has gone wrong here.

I have backed up my Files to disk and they open with no problem - except for
once or twice.

This problem has never occured before.  I have installed Microsoft Office
Professional Edition 2003 and have Windows XP.

Is there someone that can help a frustrated yet incredibily patient computer
user?

I would appreciate any assistance to my concern.

Thank you.