OFF2000: Office Shortcut Bar Starts WordPad Instead of Expected Program (299776)


The information in this article applies to:

  • Microsoft Excel 2000
  • Microsoft Office 2000 Developer
  • Microsoft Office 2000 Premium
  • Microsoft Office 2000 Professional
  • Microsoft Office 2000 Small Business
  • Microsoft Office 2000 Standard
  • Microsoft Access 2000
  • Microsoft FrontPage 2000
  • Microsoft PowerPoint 2000
  • Microsoft Publisher 2000
This article was previously published under Q299776
WARNING:This information is preliminary and has not been confirmed or tested by Microsoft. Use only with discretion.
IMPORTANT: This article contains information about modifying the registry. Before you modify the registry, make sure to back it up and make sure that you understand how to restore the registry if a problem occurs. For information about how to back up, restore, and edit the registry, click the following article number to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

256986 Description of the Microsoft Windows Registry

SYMPTOMS

When you use Microsoft Office 2000, if you click a button on the Microsoft Office Shortcut Bar (OSB), the program that you select may not start. WordPad may start instead. You receive the following error message:
File is too big to open in WordPad, would you like to open in Notepad?

CAUSE

This behavior can occur if one of the following keys is in the registry:
  • There is a SHELL folder key under HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\
  • There is a SHELL or SHELLNEW folder key under HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\lnkfile
Neither the SHELL key nor the SHELLNEW key are normally found in these registry locations.

RESOLUTION

WARNING: If you use Registry Editor incorrectly, you may cause serious problems that may require you to reinstall your operating system. Microsoft cannot guarantee that you can solve problems that result from using Registry Editor incorrectly. Use Registry Editor at your own risk.


To resolve this behavior, remove the HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\*\Shell or HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\lnkfile\Shell or Shellnew registry key(s). To remove these keys, follow these steps:
  1. Quit all programs, including the Office Shortcut Bar.
  2. Click Start, and then click Run.
  3. In the Open box, type regedit, and then click OK.
  4. In the Registry Editor, select the following registry key:

    HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\*\Shell

  5. On the Registry menu, click Export Registry File. Confirm that the selected branch listed is correct.
  6. Type a unique file name such as ShellBU, and then click Save.

    NOTE: If you export multiple keys, be sure to save each one to a separate file.
  7. On the Edit menu, click Delete.
  8. Repeat steps 4 through 7 for HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\lnkfile\Shell and HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\lnkfile\Shellnew if they are present. After you have removed the folders, restart your computer.
The Office Shortcut Bar buttons now function as expected.

REFERENCES

For additional information, click the article numbers below to view the articles in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

200394 OFF2000: Buttons on OSB Launch Quick View

279471 OFF2000: Open With Dialog Box Appears When Clicking OSB Button

Modification Type:MinorLast Reviewed:1/6/2006
Keywords:kbprb KB299776
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