"The File Format is Invalid" whenever I try to open a Word File

Pages 3.0.2 consistently returns the 'format invalid' error when I try to open .doc files. These are mostly of kind Microsoft Word 97-2004. I get the same result whether I try to open the file from within Pages or drag the file to the dock icon (running or not) or even if I change the file properties to open it with pages. Opening a .doc file in TextEdit yields only gibberish, so that avenue is not open either.
This is a new MacBook Air I'm setting up for my wife who wanted something lighter for the road, which required over a Gigabyte of upgrades right out of the box. At least Pages will run, unlike Word for Mac 2008, which after an upgrade aimed to fix an issue where Word quits 'unexpectedly' when one opens or uses the program still fails to start up. This means that I have no chance to re-save files until my wife returns with her old iBook G4 with a functioning copy of Word 2004.
Short of installing OpenOffice* does anyone have any suggestions for 'unlocking the functionality' of Pages?
*Next on my list, though I've used it and find it emulates Word all too well in sluggishness.
Thanks.

what version of java is displayed when you go to https://www.mozilla.org/plugincheck/ (it should currently be java 7 update 45 - if not try to download it again from java.com).
if java plugin content isn't playing despite you have allowed it from the icon in the address bar please also make sure, that you're not using an addon like noscript, adblock or others that might also block such content & you may need to accept all security-related messages that come from the java plugin itself...

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"The File Format is Invalid" whenever I try to open a Word File

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