Word startup error

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I get the following in a popup whenever I start Word 2K:

MS VB run-time error: “-2147467259 (800004000)” Automation error. Unspecified error.

I click “OK” and everything seems to run fine. Any clues?

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No clues. Suggestion, though:
Get out your disks and reinstall Word. See if that helps.

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Check out these three links to the MS KB:
Q211366
Q182610
Q176865

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I get “Parameter incorrect” when I click those links. If I strip off the parameters in the URL I get some KB articles that have part of the same error message but they don’t (that I can tell) apply to my situation. Thanks.

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I have typically seen this type of error occur do to a problematic Word AddIN, or some bad code in a startup template. Take a look at the following document:
WD2000: How to Reset User Options and Registry Settings

Using that document, first, do the steps listed under: To Start Word by Using /A
Note, the command must have the Quotes and a space before the /A to work.

If word starts without the error, then it is most likely an addin or template.
Next, follow the steps under: To View Installed COM Add-ins, and use the button to disable, one by one, the addins, to see if one is the culprit.

Next, the steps under: To Rename the Normal Template

If neither of those work, I would look at the other steps listed, but my guess is one of those two will (assuming of course, that starting Word with the /A switch worked)

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Word started just fine with the “/A” switch. I had no COM add-ins. Renaming normal.dot did the trick.

Thanks.

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Great! Glad to here all is well.

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Hi,

I’d still be careful of what was in your old nornal.dot. It had some code which caused an error- and if you didn’t put the code in there, there’s a possibility that whatever did (another piece of software which interacts with Word probably) might reinstall itself again- or it may be something which you want to work but now doesn’t! Just keep an eye on it.

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Hi James:

For what it’s worth, you can start Word from Start/Run & type without quotes: winword.exe /a

You don’t need the path or quotes.

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