FP97: Error Connecting to FrontPage Editor

ID: Q169079

The information in this article applies to:
  • Microsoft FrontPage 97 for Windows
IMPORTANT: This article contains information about editing the registry. Before you edit the registry, make sure you understand how to restore it if a problem occurs. For information about how to do this, view the "Restoring the Registry" Help topic in Regedit.exe or the "Restoring a Registry Key" Help topic in Regedt32.exe.

SYMPTOMS

When you start FrontPage Editor from within FrontPage Explorer, you receive the following error:

Unable to connect to the FrontPage Editor.
When you attempt to save a file to FrontPage Explorer from FrontPage Editor, you receive the following error message:
Could not make connection to the FrontPage Explorer. Please try to start the FrontPage Explorer from the Start menu or the icon in the program group.


CAUSE

This error may result from any of the following conditions:

  • Illegal TCP/IP name


  • Resource limitations


  • Errors in the video subsystem


  • Registry errors


  • Missing registry keys


  • Missing FrontPage registry key


  • Mismatched OLE components on Windows NT


  • Problems with Windows installation



RESOLUTION

Start with the first method and proceed to the next method until the problem is corrected.

Method 1: Illegal TCP/IP Name

Check the name of the computer and correct it. For more information, please see the following article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:
Q156909 FP: OLE Errors When Working With FrontPage

Method 2: Resource Limitations

Make sure you have sufficient free resources. FrontPage 97 requires a minimum of 16 megabytes (MB) of memory if you are running the Personal Web Server. If you are running other programs or services, they will be using resources that otherwise would be available to FrontPage. To free up resources, try either of the following:
  • Restart your computer.

    -or-


  • Shut down all programs except for Windows Explorer and Systray.


Method 3: Errors in Video Subsystem or Registry Errors

Start FrontPage Editor as a stand-alone program by double-clicking the Fpeditor.exe file in the \Program Files\Microsoft FrontPage\bin folder. Because FrontPage registers itself when you start it, it may be able to fix any registry errors related to it. If you still receive errors after starting FrontPage Editor, follow these steps.

NOTES:
  • Do not replace any .dll files if FrontPage Editor starts.


  • Do not rename the Ntdll.dll file in step 1 if you are running Windows NT.


  1. Rename the following files, located in the Windows\System folder. These files are hidden files.


    2. Ntdll.dll
    Avifil32.dll
    Advapi32.dll
  2. From the Windows 95 compact disc, copy the three files listed in step 1 to the Windows\System folder on your hard disk.

    Try to run FrontPage Editor. If you still receive errors after performing steps 1 and 2, follow these steps:


    1. Rename the following files, located in the Windows\System folder. These files are hidden files.


      2. Dciman.dll
      Dciman32.dll
    2. From the Windows 95 compact disc, copy the two files mentioned in step a to the Windows\System folder on your hard disk.


  3. Try to run FrontPage Editor again.


Method 4: Undo Registry Cleaning Utilities

If you used a utility to clean the Registry (remove obsolete registry keys), restart the registry cleaning program and restore the Registry to its previous state. If the program does not provide a feature to restore previous Registry entries, go to Method 5.

Method 5: Absence of Required Registry Keys

WARNING: Using Registry Editor incorrectly can cause serious problems that may require you to reinstall your operating system. 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" Help topic in Registry Editor (Regedit.exe) or the "Add and Delete Information in the Registry" and "Edit Registry Data" Help topics in Regedt32.exe. Note that you should back up the registry before you edit it. If you are running Windows NT, you should also update your Emergency Repair Disk (ERD).

Microsoft has received reports that some computers appear to be "losing" the Registry settings that FrontPage needs to run properly. Microsoft has not determined why some computers are losing these Registry settings while other computers are not.

If You Are Using Windows 95:

Back up your registry, and then follow these steps:
  1. Download the Fp169079.exe file. The Fp169079.exe file is available to download from the Microsoft Download Center:
    FP169079.exe
    Release Date: September 11, 1997


  2. After you download it, double-click the Fp169079.exe file to extract its contents.

    The following two files will be stored on your hard disk:


    3. Fix97.reg Aux97.reg
  3. Double-click the Fix97.reg file.


  4. When you receive a message indicating that the information was successfully registered, click OK.

    If you still receive the errors described in the "Symptoms" section of this article, skip to Method 6.


If You Are Using Windows NT 4.0:

Back up the following registry keys:
HKEY_CLasses_Root HKEY_Current_User
To back up these registry keys, follow these steps:
  1. On the Start menu, click Run.


  2. In the Open box, type "regedt32 /v" (without the quotation marks).


  3. Open the HKEY_Classes_Root key and select the first folder in the left pane.


  4. On the Registry menu, click Save Key.


  5. Type a file name and select a location where you want to save this file.

    NOTE: You should note the file name and location in case you need to restore the Registry key.


  6. Open the HKEY_Current_User key and select the top folder in the left pane.


  7. Repeat steps 4 and 5.


After you back up the registry keys, follow these steps:
  1. Download the Fp169079.exe file from the Microsoft Software Library.

    The Fp169079.exe file is available to download from the Microsoft Download Center:


    2. FP169079.exe
  2. After you download it, double-click the Fp169079.exe file.

    The following two files will be copied to your hard disk:


    3. Fix97.reg
    Aux97.reg
  3. Double-click the Fix97.reg file.


  4. When you receive a message indicating that the information was successfully registered, click OK.

    If you still receive the errors described in the "Symptoms" section, follow the steps in Method 6.


Method 6: Missing FrontPage Registry Key

WARNING: Using Registry Editor incorrectly can cause serious problems that may require you to reinstall your operating system. 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" Help topic in Registry Editor (Regedit.exe) or the "Add and Delete Information in the Registry" and "Edit Registry Data" Help topics in Regedt32.exe. Note that you should back up the registry before you edit it. If you are running Windows NT, you should also update your Emergency Repair Disk (ERD).

On some computers, FrontPage 97 Setup does not create the following registry key: 

   [HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\FrontPage\Editor]
   "Auxiliary DLL Registered For"="2.0.2.1112"
The existence of this key affects how long it takes FrontPage to start. On computers where this Registry key is missing, FrontPage Explorer and FrontPage Editor time-out prematurely.

It you determine that this key is missing from the Registry, use the following steps to install it.

Windows 95:

After you back up your Registry, follow these steps:
  1. Download the Fp169079.exe file from the Microsoft Software Library.

    The Fp169079.exe file is available to download from the Microsoft Download Center:


    2. FP169079.exe
  2. After you download it, double-click the Fp169079.exe file.

    The following two files will be copied to your hard disk:


    3. Fix97.reg
    Aux97.reg
  3. Double-click the Aux97.reg file.


  4. When you receive a message indicating that the information was successfully registered, click OK.


Windows NT 4.0:

Back up the following Registry keys:
HKEY_CLasses_Root
HKEY_Current_User
To back up these Registry keys, do the following:
  1. On the Start menu, click Run.


  2. In the Open box, type "regedt32 /v" (without the quotation marks).


  3. Open the HKEY_Classes_Root key and select the first folder in the left pane.


  4. On the Registry menu, click Save Key.


  5. Type a file name and select a location where you want to save this file.

    NOTE: You should note the file name and location in case you need to restore the Registry key.


  6. Open the HKEY_Current_User key and select the top folder in the left pane.


  7. Repeat steps 4 through 5.


After you back up the Registry keys, follow these steps:
  1. Download the Fp169079.exe file.

    The Fp169079.exe file is available to download from the Microsoft Download Center:


    2. FP169079.exe
  2. After you download it, double-click the Fp169079.exe file.

    The following two files are stored on your hard disk:


    3. Fix97.reg
    Aux97.reg
  3. Double-click the Aux97.reg file.


  4. When you receive a message indicating that the information was successfully registered, click OK.


If you still receive the errors described in the "Symptoms" section, go to Method 7.

Method 7: Mismatched OLE Components on Windows NT

FrontPage 97 calls OLE32.dll and OLEAUT32.dll files when making the connection between FrontPage Explorer and FrontPage Editor. These files may make further calls to other elements of the OLE subsystem. In the event your installation of OLE has been improperly upgraded or has become mismatched, a full installation of the most recent Service Pack for Windows NT may solve the problem. If you have followed all of the previous steps without success, try installing the latest Windows NT Service Pack from the following Web site:
http://www.microsoft.com/ntserver/info/
NOTE: Follow the Service Pack Setup directions explicitly. Also, be sure to quit any programs which may use OLE before you install the service pack.

If you still receive the errors described in the "Symptoms" section, you will need to reinstall Windows NT to a new folder.

Method 8: Reinstall Windows

For information about how to reinstall Windows 95, please see the following article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:
Q142096 How to Reinstall Windows 95 to a New Folder

Additional query words:

Keywords : kberrmsg kbdta fpexp fpedit
Version : WINDOWS:
Platform : WINDOWS
Issue type :


Last Reviewed: October 28, 1999
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