One suggestion was to click on Word (and Excel if doing same) in the Start Menu, click Properties and uncheck the Run this program as an administrator on the Compatibility Tab. I did this and it didn't work. Then went to the WORD.EXE file (and EXCEL.EXE) files in the Program Files under Office folder, and clicked properties and found out on the .EXE files the Run this program as an administrator was still checked even though I'd unchecked it from the start menu. Once I unchecked it here as well, it fixed the problem and both Word and Excel files open fine from either emails or the Windows Explorer folders. VR.
