WD97: Cannot Locate Msconv97.dll When Converting Files

• Microsoft Word 97 for Windows
• Microsoft Windows 95

IMPORTANT: This article contains information about editing the registry. Before you edit the registry, you should first make a backup copy of the registry files (System.dat and User.dat). Both are hidden files in the Windows folder.

SYMPTOMS

When you try to open a document that was created in non-Word format, you may receive one of the following error messages:

   Cannot locate Msconv97.dll.

   -or-

   Cannot locate conversions library.

Cause 1: The Msconv97.dll File Is in the Wrong Location

You will receive the error message if the Msconv97.dll file is in a different location from the text converters.

Cause 2: Incorrect Installation of Wpft632.cnv

If Office 95 is installed on your computer and if you install any 97- series Microsoft program, then Wpft632.cnv is re-installed and registered. Some programs, such as Microsoft Publisher 97, will install or update the wpft632.cnv and register it. When the 97 programs are subsequently uninstalled, some of those components or registry entries may not be removed.

RESOLUTION

If the Files Are in the Wrong Location

Use one of the following methods to correct the problem:

Method 1:

Remove the text converters that are not in the \Microsoft Shared\Textconv directory and run Microsoft Office Setup to install them to the correct directory.

Method 2:

Copy the msconv97.dll file to the directory that contains the text converters. The most likely directory would be \Msapps\Textconv.

If You Suspect That Msconv97.dll or Wpft632.cnv Was Installed Incorrectly

1. Search the hard disk drive for any occurrence of Msconv97.dll and Wpft632.cnv and rename those files.

2. Remove the following registry entries:

         HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Shared Tools\CNVCORE
   

         HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion
            \SharedDLLs
   
         HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Shared Tools
            \Text Converters\Import\WordPerfect6x
   
         HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Shared Tools
            \Text Converters\Import\WrdPrfctDOS
   
   
      WARNING: Using Registry Editor incorrectly can cause serious problems
      that may require you to reinstall Windows 95. Microsoft cannot
      guarantee that problems resulting from the incorrect use of Registry
      Editor can be solved. Use Registry Editor at your own risk.
   
      For information about how to edit the registry, view the Changing Keys
      And Values online Help topic in Registry Editor (Regedit.exe). Note that
      you should make a backup copy of the registry files (System.dat and
      User.dat) before you edit the registry.
   
   

3. Run Office 95 Setup and remove all of the text converters. Choose Yes to remove shared components. If you are correcting an Office 97 installation, perform a Remove All of Office 95.

4. If you are restoring an Office 95 installation, run Office 95 Setup and reinstall the text converters you want to use. If you are correcting an Office 97 installation, reinstall the Office 97 text converters you want to use.

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.

MORE INFORMATION

When you uninstall FrontPage, Office 95, or Office 97, the proofing tools and text converters of the remaining applications may not work as expected. For more information, please see the following article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

   ARTICLE ID: Q160226
   TITLE: Can't Use Proofing Tools (Spelling Checker) or Text Converters

REFERENCES

For more information on troubleshooting document conversion, please see the following articles in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

   ARTICLE ID: Q114168
   TITLE: Troubleshooting Guide: Converting Docs in Word for Windows

   ARTICLE ID: Q157089
   TITLE: Limitations of Converting from WordPerfect 6.x to Word 97

   ARTICLE ID: Q162987
   TITLE: WD97: Supported Non-Word File Formats