"Word Cannot Start the Converter" in Word for Windows NT

Q135078

The information in this article applies to:

SYMPTOMS

You get the following error message several times when you try to convert a document from a foreign file format into Microsoft Word

Word cannot start the converter <Filename.ext>
where <Filename.ext> represents a converter, such as Wordmac.cnv.


CAUSE

The above error occurs because both 16-bit and 32-bit converters are in the C:\<Windows>\Msapps\Textconv subdirectory or the Word program directory (C:\Winword). This behavior occurs in the following situations:

Case 1: You did not remove Word 6.0 for Windows before installing Word for Windows NT. As a result, the 16-bit converters still remain in the C:\<Windows>\Msapps\Textconv subdirectory or in your Winword directory. In addition, the converters are still listed in the Win.ini and the Winword6.ini files, located in your Windows directory.

Case 2: Office 4.2 for Windows NT was installed. This installation includes a 16-bit PowerPoint converter.

WORKAROUNDS

Method 1: If only Word for Windows NT will be run on the system, manually remove the 16-bit converters.

NOTE: All 32-bit converters include the number "32" (without the quotation marks) in the filename. Do not remove these files.

Method 2: If the converters for both Word for Windows NT and Word for Windows, OR Word for Windows NT and PowerPoint for Windows, will be used on the same machine, do the following:

  1. Create a new subdirectory. For example:


    2. C:\<WINDOWS>\MSAPPS\TEXTCONV\16BIT
  2. Move all 16-bit converters into this new subdirectory.


  3. Using a text editor such as Notepad, edit the Win.ini file, located in your Windows directory.


  4. In the [MSAPPS] section, change the Textconv path to point to the newly created directory.


  5. In the [MS Text Converters] section, change the path of all 16-bit converters to point to the new directory.


  6. Using a text editor, such as Notepad, edit the Winword6.ini (located in your Windows directory).


  7. In the [MSWord Text Converters] section modify the paths for the 16-bit converters.



MORE INFORMATION

The above error message occurs for each 16-bit converter (*.cnv), that Word for Windows NT attempts to auto-register when it finds it. The converters that ship with Word for Windows cannot be used in Word for Windows NT. For more information on using both Word for Windows and Word for Windows NT on the same machine, please see the following article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

Q122449 Cannot Start Converter with Both WinWord and NTWord Installed

Additional query words: 6.00a 6.00c word6 textconv ntword wordnt converter converters conversion convert transfer translate open err

Keywords : kbconversion
Issue type :
Technology :


Last Reviewed: November 4, 2000
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