WD97: Outlook/WordMail Tries to Use Word Viewer as Editor

• Microsoft Word Viewer 97

SYMPTOMS

When you run Outlook, you receive the following message:

   Starting Word as your e-mail editor.

   This form requires Word as your e-mail editor, but Word is either busy
   or cannot be found.

CAUSE

This problem occurs because Outlook is attempting to use Word Viewer as your e-mail editor.

Outlook will attempt to use Word Viewer 97 rather than Word 97 as your e- mail editor when the following conditions are true:

• You have installed Microsoft Word 97 and Microsoft Word Viewer 97 on the same computer.

  -and-

• You have Word Viewer set as the default program for opening .doc files.

  -and-

• You have WordMail enabled.

RESOLUTION

Remove Microsoft Word Viewer 97, reinstall it, and choose not to open documents with Viewer.

To remove Microsoft Word Viewer 97:

1. On the Windows taskbar, click Start, point to Settings, and click Control Panel.

2. Double-click Add/Remove Programs.

3. Click Microsoft Word Viewer 97 and click the Add/Remove button.

4. Once Setup starts, click Uninstall.

STATUS

Microsoft has confirmed this to be a problem in the Microsoft products listed at the beginning of this article. We are researching this problem and will post new information here in the Microsoft Knowledge Base as it becomes available.

REFERENCES

To obtain help with Microsoft Word Viewer 97, please see the following resources:

• Microsoft's World Wide Web Site on the Internet:

       http://www.microsoft.com/word/internet/viewer/default.htm
  

• Refer to the accompanying Readme.doc file for product information and support options.
• Microsoft offers Word Viewer support on the standard Microsoft Word for Windows Technical Support phone line, at (425) 462-9673.