WD: "Invalid Page Fault" During Mail Merge

• Microsoft Word for Windows 95, versions 7.0, 7.0a
• Microsoft Word 97 for Windows

SYMPTOMS

When you create a mail merge, you may receive one of the following error messages after you click the Create button and select an option, after you click Active Window or New Main Document, or after you click the Get Data button:

   This program has performed an illegal operation and will be shut down.

   -or-

   (After you click the Details button)

   Winword has caused an invalid page fault in module <unknown> at
   0000:815xxxxx"

   -or-

   Winword has caused an invalid page fault in module ODBC32.DLL

   -or-

   Invalid Page Fault error in module Winword.exe.

   -or-

   A Fatal Exception error has occurred.

CAUSE

This problem occurs because the Odbc32.dll file, located in the Windows\System folder, has been corrupted.

RESOLUTION

To resolve this problem, use the appropriate method described below.

Method 1: Rename the Current Odbc32.dll File and Reinstall Office

1. Use Windows Explorer to locate the Odbc32.dll file in the Windows\System folder.

2. Select the Odbc32.dll file. Press F2, and type a new name for the file, such as "Odbc32.old" (without the quotation marks). Click Yes when asked if you want to change the file name's extension.

3. Click the Start button, point to Settings, and then click Control Panel. In Control Panel, double-click Add/Remove Programs.

4. On the Install/Uninstall tab, click Microsoft Office 97, Microsoft Word 97, Microsoft Word 7.0, or Microsoft Office. Click the Add/Remove button.

5. Click the Reinstall button.

Method 2: Manually Extract the Odbc32.dll File

You can manually extract the Odbc32.dll file from the disks using the following Extract command syntax:

   extract /e a:\<cab file name>.cab odbc32.dll /l <Windows folder>\system

   ARTICLE-ID: Q135659
   TITLE     : Microsoft Office 7.0 Disks 17-24 .CAB Contents (DMF)

   ARTICLE-ID: Q135657
   TITLE     : Microsoft Office 7.0 Disks 1-8 .CAB Contents (DMF)

Method 3: Copy the Odbc32.dll File from the Office Compact Disc

If you have Microsoft Office on compact disc, copy the Odbc32.dll file from the OS\System folder on the compact disc to the Windows\System folder on your local hard drive.

Method 4: Rename the Current Odbc32.dll File and Reinstall the ODBC Appnote

ODBC may have been installed to a stand-alone version of Word using the Odbc32.dll file that ships with "WX1220: ODBC 32-Bit Drivers Appnote." Rename the current Odbc32.dll file and reinstall the Odbc32.dll file from "WX1220: ODBC 32-Bit Drivers Appnote."

For additional information, please see the following article here in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

   ARTICLE-ID: Q139487
   TITLE     : WX1220: ODBC 32-Bit Drivers Appnote

MORE INFORMATION

You cannot correct this error by deleting the Office folder and reinstalling Office because the problem file is in a different folder. You must rename the Odbc32.dll file (located in the Windows\System folder) manually, and then reinstall Office to correct this error.

To Obtain the WX1220: ODBC 32-Bit Drivers Application Note

 ~ WX1220.exe (size: 2773979 bytes) 
              is available for download from the Microsoft Software
   Library.

   ARTICLE-ID: Q119591
   TITLE     : How to Obtain Microsoft Support Files from Online Services

   http://www.microsoft.com/worldwide/default.htm