OFF97: Error Message: "Invalid Page Fault (IPF) in Module Mso97.dll" (160552)

SYMPTOMS

When you start Microsoft Word 97 or Microsoft Outlook 97, or when you click AutoCorrect on the Tools menu in Microsoft Excel 97 or Microsoft Access 97, 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.
If you click Details, the following error message appears:
<Program name> caused an invalid page fault in module MSO97.DLL at 014f:306c59b9.
where <Program name> is WINWORD, EXCEL, or MSACCESS.
When you click AutoCorrect on the Tools menu in Microsoft PowerPoint 97, the following error message appears:
PowerPoint found an error that it can't correct. You should save presentations, exit, and then restart PowerPoint.
When you add a Microsoft Word document to a Binder in Microsoft Office 97, 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.
If you click Details, the following error message appears:
WINWORD caused an invalid page fault in module MSO97.DLL at 014f:306c59b9.
If you click Close, the following error message appears:
Office Binder cannot add the section to the binder. This type of file may not be supported by Office Binder. An unexpected error has occurred.

RESOLUTION

To resolve these problems, use one of the following methods.

Method 1: Download the Microsoft Office 97 SR-1 Patch

For additional information about SR-1, please see the following article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

172475 OFF97: How to Obtain and Install MS Office 97 SR-1

Method 2: Download the AutoCorrect Utility

The following file is available for download from the Microsoft Download Center:

Aclutil.exe

The Aclutil.exe file contains the Aclfix.exe and Aclread.txt files.

For additional information about how to download Microsoft Support files, click the following article number to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

119591 How to Obtain Microsoft Support Files from Online Services

Microsoft scanned this file for viruses. Microsoft used the most current virus-detection software that was available on the date that the file was posted. The file is stored on security-enhanced servers that help to prevent any unauthorized changes to the file.

Method 3: Rename the .acl files (except Mso97.acl)

On the Start menu, point to Find, and click Files Or Folders.
In the Named box, type *.acl. In the Look In box, type the path to the Windows folder (for example, type C:\Windows). Then, click Find Now.

When the search is completed, a list of .acl files appears. These files are stored in the Windows folder.

IMPORTANT: One of the .acl files is named Mso97.acl. Do not rename or delete this file unless you are instructed to do so by Microsoft Technical Support, or you completely remove Microsoft Office 97 from the computer.
Right-click one of the .acl files (for example, User.acl). Then, click Rename on the shortcut menu.
Press END. Then type .old and press ENTER.

The file appears with ".old" appended to the end (for example, User.acl.old).
Except for Mso97.acl, repeat steps 3 and 4 for all .acl files in the Windows folder.

After you rename the .acl files, the problems described in this article no longer occur.

MORE INFORMATION

All of the programs included with Microsoft Office 97 support a feature called AutoCorrect. AutoCorrect automatically corrects text as you type it, fixing mistakes like accidentally typing two initial capitals, or correcting commonly misspelled words.

For each person who uses the computer, AutoCorrect settings and words are maintained separately in a file called <User name>.acl, where <User name> is the user's profile. This file is stored in the Windows folder on the computer.

If this file becomes corrupted for any reason, you may encounter one or more of the problems described in this article when you start Microsoft Word 97 or Microsoft Outlook 97, or when you attempt to display the AutoCorrect dialog box in any program.

When you rename or delete a <Username>.acl file, a new <Username>.acl file is created when you start Microsoft Word 97 or Microsoft Outlook 97, or when you display the AutoCorrect dialog box in any program.

Note that the file Mso97.acl is a special AutoCorrect file. Do not rename or delete it unless you have completely removed Microsoft Office 97 from the computer.