You receive a "This file could not be found" or "The document name or path is not valid" error message when you open an HTML document in Word 2000 (229426)

SYMPTOMS

When you try to open an HTML (Hypertext Markup Language) document or Web page in Microsoft Word 2000, you may receive an error message similar to one of the following, and the HTML document does not open:

This file could not be found.
Try one or more of the following:
* Check the spelling of the name of the document.
* Try a different file name.
(C:\path\file name)

-or-

The document name or path is not valid. Try these suggestions.
* Check the file permissions for the document or drive.
* Use the File Open dialog box to locate the document.
(C:\path\file name)

WORKAROUND

Use one of the following methods to work around this problem.

Method 1: Use a Different HTML Editor or Text Editor

NOTE: This is the recommended method to work around this problem.

To open or edit the HTML document, use a different HTML or text editor, and make the changes that you want. For example, open the HTML document in Notepad or Microsoft FrontPage.

Method 2: Copy or Move the Referenced File

Before you open the HTML document in Microsoft Word, copy or move the referenced file that is listed in the error message to the appropriate location that is listed in the error message.

Method 3: Modify the Link Tag

IMPORTANT: It is not recommended that you modify a LINK tag in an HTML file, because this can make the result of the HTML file useless if you point it to an incorrect file. Use the following procedure at your own risk.

Before you try to open the file in Microsoft Word, follow these steps to edit the invalid LINK tag in the HTML file:

Click OK to close the error message that you received in the "Symptoms" section of this article.
Open the HTML file in a text editor. For example, open the file in Notepad. To do this, follow these steps:
1. Click Start, point to Programs, point to Accessories, and then click Notepad.
2. On the File menu, click Open.
3. In the Open dialog box, click to select the file, and then click Open.
Locate and change the LINK tag that references the missing file as listed in the error message. For example, locate and change the LINK tag similar to the following, to point to the correct location and file name:
<link id=Main-File rel=Main-File href="../test.htm">
After you modify the appropriate LINK tag, save and close your HTML file.

The HTML file should now open in Microsoft Word.

Method 4: Remove the Link Tag

IMPORTANT: It is not recommended that you remove a LINK tag from an HTML file, because this can make the result of the HTML file useless. Use the following procedure at your own risk.

Before you try to open the file in Microsoft Word, follow these steps to remove the invalid LINK tag from the HTML file:

Click OK to close the error message that you received in the "Symptoms" section of this article.
Open the HTML file in a text editor. For example, open the file in Notepad. To do this, follow these steps:
1. Click Start, point to Programs, point to Accessories, and then click Notepad.
2. On the File menu, click Open.
3. In the Open dialog box, click to select the file, and then click Open.
Select and delete the LINK tag that references the missing file as listed in the error message. For example, select and delete the LINK tag similar to the following:
<link id=Main-File rel=Main-File href="test.htm">
After you delete the appropriate LINK tag, save and close your HTML file.