WD2000: "An Error Occurred..." When You Start Word on Windows NT 4.0 (306021)


The information in this article applies to:

  • Microsoft Word 2000, when used with:
    • the operating system: Microsoft Windows NT 4.0
This article was previously published under Q306021
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 start Microsoft Word 2000 on a computer that is running Microsoft Windows NT 4.0, you receive the following error message:
An error occurred and this feature is no longer functioning properly. Please run setup and select repair to restore this application.
When you click OK to this message, Word starts and functions normally.

In addition, if you start Word with the /a command switch, the error message does not appear. However, methods to reset Word to its default settings (such as renaming the Normal.dot file or deleting the Word Data key in the registry) have no effect.

This issue often affects Windows NT 4.0 Terminal Server.

CAUSE

By default, Word maintains MS-DOS file names (8.3 file names) for backward compatibility with earlier Office versions. On computers where MS-DOS file names are disabled, Word cannot maintain the MS-DOS file names, and you receive the error message described in the "Symptoms" section.

This problem can occur if you change the value to "1" for the following registry key:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\FileSystem\NtfsDisable8dot3NameCreation

RESOLUTION

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

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.

Method 1: Turn on 8.3 File Name Creation

Follow these steps to allow the system to generate MS-DOS file names for all files:
  1. Click Start and then click Run.
  2. In the Run dialog box, type regedit and then click OK.
  3. Locate the NtfsDisable8dot3NameCreation value in the following registry key:

    HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\FileSystem

  4. Double-click the NtfsDisable8dot3NameCreation value.
  5. In the Edit DWORD Value dialog box, change the value to 0 and then click OK.
  6. Quit Registry Editor.

Method 2: Prevent Word from Trying to Generate 8.3 File Names

Use these steps to prevent Word from trying to generate MS-DOS file names:
  1. Close all instances of Word and Word Mail.
  2. Click Start and then click Run.
  3. In the Run dialog box, type regedit and then click OK.
  4. Select the following registry key:

    HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Office\9.0\Word\Options

  5. On the Edit menu, point to New, and then click DWORD Value.
  6. Type NoReReg for the name of the new value.
  7. Double-click the NoReReg value.
  8. In the Edit DWORD Value dialog box, change the value to 1 and then click OK.
  9. Quit Registry Editor and then start Word normally.
NOTE: If you are running Windows NT 4.0 Terminal Server, adding the NoReReg registry value to the following key affects all new users and profiles that you create on the system:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Terminal Server\Install\Software\Microsoft\Office\9.0\Word\Options

Modification Type:MajorLast Reviewed:8/27/2002
Keywords:kberrmsg kbprb KB306021
©2002 Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved.