.odt files are difficult to open

I am using windows 8.1.
I just updated Libre office to 5.1.2

This behavior was happening even before the update.

I double click on an odt file I want to open. Little blue spinning wheel shows up and then nothing. I wait a bit. Maybe I go play a game for a few minutes. Still nothing. I double click again. Same cycle repeats itself.

So instead I try to start the libreoffice base up. Once again no indication that anything has changed.

I instead try to start up the generic writer module. Still nothing.

I look in the task manager and I have:
libre office (32 bit) 28 instances
Libre base (32 bit) 3 instances
Libre writer (32 bit) 11 instances

and I still do not have my document open.

I am trying to fill out job applications and I need these files.

Try closing after close first all instances, with right-click open.