WD97: "User Options" File Location Path Has No Function (191938)


The information in this article applies to:

  • Microsoft Word 97 for Windows
This article was previously published under Q191938


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


SUMMARY

The User Options setting is no longer used as it is in some earlier versions of Microsoft Word. If a path is set for User Options, the path is ignored by Word.

MORE INFORMATION

To show the User Options setting, use the following steps:

  1. On the Tools menu, click Options.
  2. Click the File Locations tab.
  3. In the File types list, select User Options. The path for User Options is displayed under Location.
NOTE: The Location path for User Options is blank by default. This option is no longer used in Word 97 for Windows.

The User Options file location in some earlier versions of Word points to the location of the Winword.opt file. The Winword.opt is a binary file that some earlier versions of Word for Windows use to store user preference settings. Most user preferences are set when you click Options on the Tools menu and make changes to the settings on the various tabs. Microsoft Word 97 for Windows does not use an .opt file to store user preferences; instead, Word uses the Windows Registry to store the settings of user preferences.

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.

In Word 97 for Windows, user preferences are stored in the Windows Registry in the following registry keys:

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Office\8.0\Word\Data

-and-



HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Office\8.0\Word\Options

NOTE: If a path is set for User Options, an INI-PATH string value will be set in the Options registry key; however, since Word no longer uses this setting, it will be ignored.

REFERENCES

For additional information, see the following article or articles in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

172674 WD: Where Word Settings Are Stored


140097 WD: How to Rebuild User Preference and Options Settings

Modification Type:MajorLast Reviewed:8/28/2002
Keywords:kbinfo KB191938
©2002 Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved.