you+are+attempting+to+open+a+file+that+was+created+in+an+earlier+version+of+microsoft+office.++This+file+type+is+blocked+by+a+registry+setting+policy

=Error Message:= //"you are attempting to open a file that was created in an earlier version of microsoft office. This file type is blocked..."//

=Word 2003 Fix:= In Word 2003, there are no trusted locations. You can create an exempt location to override the registry policy settings. To create an exempt location, follow these steps:

 > **HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Office\11.0\Common** > > **Note** You must create the folder. Any subfolders are not automatically exempted. For any additional folders that you would like to make exempt, repeat steps 6 to 9 by creating string values such as "ExemptDirectory1," and "ExemptDirectory2."
 * 1) Exit Word 2003.
 * 2) Click **Start**, click **Run**, type regedit in the **Open** box, and then click **OK**.
 * 3) Locate and then click one of the following registry subkeys:
 * HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Office\11.0\Common**
 * 1) Point to **New** on the **Edit** menu, and then click **Key**.
 * 2) Type OICEExemptions for the name of the key.
 * 3) Point to **New** on the **Edit** menu, and then click **String Value**.
 * 4) Type a string name, and then press ENTER. For example, type ExemptDirectory.
 * 5) Right-click the string name that you typed in step 7, and then click **Modify**.
 * 6) In the **Value data** box, type the path of the directory that contains the file, and then click **OK**. For example, if your document is in the C:\My Documents folder, type C:\My Documents in the **Value data** box.
 * 1) On the **File** menu, click **Exit** to exit Registry Editor.

Reference: [|http://support.microsoft.com/kb/922849#w2003]