Word Opens a Blank Document Instead of a URL

• Microsoft Internet Assistant for Word, version 1.0
• Microsoft Word for Windows, versions 6.0a, 6.0c

SYMPTOMS

When attempting to open a Uniform Resource Locator (URL) or follow a link, Word appears to be searching for the URL or link, but nothing happens. Control is returned to Word, no error message is displayed in a message box or in the status bar, and the URL or link is not activated.

CAUSE

• InternetWorks may be improperly registered in the registration database.

  -or-

• The registration database may be damaged or corrupted.

RESOLUTION

Method 1: Manually register InternetWorks and Word. To do this, go to

          Windows File Manager. Locate the IW.REG file in the
          <WinWord>\INTERNET subdirectory (where <WinWord> is your Word for
          Windows directory--usually, C:\WINWORD) and double-click it to
          register it. Locate the WINWORD6.REG file in the <WinWord>
          directory and double-click it to register it. Start InternetWorks
          and Word. If this procedure does not correct the problem, use
          Method 2.

          on how to rebuild the registration database, please see the
          following article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

             ARTICLE-ID:Q122964
             TITLE     :How to Rebuild the Reg.Date File and Re-Register
                         Applications