WD97: When You Quit Word, It Hangs or Stops Responding

• Microsoft Word 97 for Windows

SYMPTOMS

When you quit Microsoft Word, Word may appear to stop responding (hang).

CAUSE

When you quit Microsoft Word normally, Word performs several functions. During any of these steps, problems may occur that would cause Microsoft Word to hang.

A known cause of this symptom is when Msgsrv32.dll is not responding to the system. Pressing CTRL+ALT+DEL to show the Microsoft Windows 95 task list may show that Msgsrv32.dll has stopped responding.

Msgsrv32.dll is a Microsoft Windows 95 dynamic-link library (DLL) that handles error message codes for Windows-based drivers. If Msgsrv32.dll encounters an error code that it is unable to handle, Msgsrv32.dll may stop responding.

RESOLUTION

To resolve this problem, follow these steps:

1. Press CTRL+ALT+DELETE.

2. Look for Msgsrv32.dll in the task list.

3. If Msgsrv32.dll is listed, select Msgsrv32.dll and click End Task. If prompted with the message "this application is not Responding...,", click yes.

   Microsoft Word should finish exiting normally.

4. If Msgsrv32.dll is not listed in the task list, see the articles listed below for more troubleshooting ideas.

MORE INFORMATION

This problem is known to be related to VXD Driver files. VXD driver files are commonly used in creating printer and video drivers for Windows 95. To ensure that the problem does not involve the video driver, set your display to use the Standard VGA Driver that ships with Windows 95. To ensure that the problem does not involve the printer driver, install a printer driver that does not exist in your system.

For more information, please see the following articles in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

   ARTICLE-ID: Q166703
   TITLE     WD97: Known Video Driver Conflicts in Word 97

   ARTICLE-ID: Q127139
   TITLE     : Troubleshooting Video Problems in Windows 95

   ARTICLE-ID: Q156126
   TITLE     : Troubleshooting Windows 95 Using Safe Mode

   ARTICLE-ID: Q168198
   TITLE     WD97: Troubleshooting Invalid Page Faults in Word 97

Contact the Manufacturer of the Display Adapter

After restarting Microsoft Windows 95 using the standard VGA video driver, Word should exit normally. If Word exits normally, the problem may have to do with your video driver. Contact the display adapter's manufacturer for information about obtaining an updated Windows 95 driver.