WD97: Cannot Locate Msconv97.dll When Converting Files

ID: Q166953

The information in this article applies to:

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

There are two possible causes:

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.

The Wpft632.cnv file was incorrectly installed. If Office 95 is installed on your computer and if you install any 97-series Microsoft program, Wpft632.cnv is re-installed and registered. Some programs, such as Microsoft Publisher 97, install or update the Wpft632.cnv file 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 is \Msapps\Textconv.

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

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

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.

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.

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.

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:

Q160226 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:

Q114168 Troubleshooting Guide: Converting Docs in Word for Windows

Q157089 Limitations of Converting from WordPerfect 6.x to Word 97

Q162987 WD97: Supported Non-Word File Formats

Additional query words: maintenance mode office off97

Keywords : kbinterop kbusage word97
Version : WINDOWS:95,97
Platform : WINDOWS
Issue type : kbprb