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Winword.exe has generated errors. HELP!

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9 replies

by qhcomputingny

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Hello,

Recently the president of my company, who has a laptop with MS Office 2000 on it recieved an error when he tried to run Microsoft Word. It tries to load the software and then comes up with an error "Winword.exe has generated errors and will be shut down by windows, an error log is being created". I tried to find a solution to this all over the net. I came up with one solution to reinstall, and that did not work, I then found an answer on a newsgroup that said you can rename the normal.dot filename to something else, and then reboot and start MS Word and it should make that error go away. It didn't.. Does anyone have any suggestions.. For my last resort I was going to install Office XP on this laptop, but I would rather keep Office 2000 on there for now.

9 replies

by dklippert

Delete all of the TMP files that Word leaves where ever the document was stored. They start with a tilde (~). Delete ~*.*
Rename/delete Normal.dot
Start Word on the command line with
Winword.exe /a
This starts word without any add-ins or templates. Look at Tool>T\emplates and Add-ins to see what is being used.

by qhcomputingny

The problem does not have to do with locked files. I deleted all of the normal.dot files and still get the same error. The only way I can get in the software is with the /a switch. This is annoying because before you can get in you have to type your name in and initials TWICE. It is as if it trying to finish the installation all over again.

by lizzy

I would go further by adding to DKlippert's answer. You should run Disk Cleanup on the laptop, removing all dead temp files, cookies, internet files, recent markers, etc. Scan the disk checking the box to automatically fix errors. Defragment the disk. Then you run the Office 2000 re-installation\repair. The install wizard should see that you already have it installed and ask to repair. Then go to the MS site and check for any critical updates.

Another simple thing to check or try would be to delete his usual shortcuts to word and recreate one on the desktop browsing to winword.exe. Sometimes this has been all that's needed.

Since your boss has a mobile PC, it would still be good to do the first part of my answer which should be done on a regular basis anyway.
HTH

by lizzy

Eddie, Let me add that I would not try to run Word at all until I had finished the maintenance. Also, re-boot before running Word after maintenance.

by dklippert

Since you can get in with the /a switch, that means that there is a template or add-in that is causing the problem. Go to Tools>Templates and Add-ins and remove the check marks from each entry.

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