You receive a "WINWORD caused an error in module <unknown>" error message in Word 97 when you use a template or open a document that was created in Word 2000 (220714)


The information in this article applies to:

  • Microsoft Word 2000
  • Microsoft Word 97 for Windows
This article was previously published under Q220714
For a Microsoft Word 98 Macintosh Edition version of this article, see 234035.

SYMPTOMS

In Microsoft Word 97, when you use a template or open a document created using Word 2000, the following error message may appear:

This Program has performed an illegal operation and will be shut down.
If the problem persists, contact the program vendor.
Clicking the Details button displays an additional message box with the following information:
WINWORD caused an error in module <unknown> at 0000:75ff0c75.

-or-

WINWORD caused an invalid page fault in module WINWORD.EXE at 015f:3007e9b0.

-or-

WINWORD caused an invalid page fault in module KERNEL32.DLL at 015f:bff87eaa.

CAUSE

The document or template may contain a custom toolbar with command buttons not supported in Microsoft Word 97.

WORKAROUND

To work around this problem, use one of the following methods:

Method 1: Remove the custom toolbar using the Word 97 Organizer.

You can remove the custom toolbar from the document or template using the Organizer in Word 97. To remove the toolbar customization, follow these steps:

  1. On the Tools menu, point to Templates and Add-Ins, and then click the Organizer button.
  2. Select the Toolbars tab in the Organizer.
  3. The document or template that contains the custom toolbar must be open on one side of this dialog box.
    1. Click the Close button on either the left side or right side to close the current template. This button will change to Open.
    2. Click the Open button.
    3. In the File Open dialog box, select the document or template file that contains the custom toolbar, and click OK.
  4. Select the custom toolbar in the file, and click Delete. When prompted with Do you wish to delete the toolbar <Toolbar Name>, click Yes.
  5. Click the Close button in the Organizer and save the file when prompted.

Method 2: Disable macros and customization when warned.

When you open the document in Word 97 and the following macro virus warning message appears:
The document you are opening contains macros or customizations. Some macros may contain viruses that could harm your computer.

If you are sure this document is from a trusted source, click Enable Macros. If you are not sure and want to prevent any macros from running, click Disable Macros.
Select Disable Macros when prompted, and Word will open the document or template without loading the customization contained in the custom toolbar.

NOTE: Microsoft Word considers documents and templates that are stored in either the user templates folder or the workgroup templates folder to be "trustworthy" and does not display the macros and customization warning dialog box for these.

STATUS

Microsoft has confirmed that this is a problem in the Microsoft products that are listed at the beginning of this article.

MORE INFORMATION

Word 2000 contains new toolbar controls that are not compatible for use with earlier versions of Word. Here is a list of the toolbar names and their object ID numbers:

Command Bar NameID Number
Show the Office Assistant1004
Background1706
Web Layout3621
Keyboard Language3659
Select Cell3678
Delete Table3679
Align Top Center3915
Align Top Right3916
Align Center Left3917
Align Center3918
Align Center Right3919
Align Bottom Left3920
Align Bottom Center3921
Align Bottom Right3922
Design Mode4034
Modification Type:MinorLast Reviewed:12/2/2004
Keywords:kbtemplate kbopenfile kberrmsg kbtshoot kbbug kbnofix KB220714
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