microsoft access 2002 run time error 429 ActiveX component can't create obj

Last year I created a database the generated reports in Microsoft Word. The program used to work fine but now it generates the following VB error when I try to create an MS Word report --

Run-time error '429'
ActiveX component can't create object.

To the best of my memory, I'm running the same s/w and versions as when the app worked.

My system
XP Pro 2002 SP2
MS Access 2002
MS Word 2002

Can anyone help? I've tried Microsoft's kb without any luck.

thanks,