Error message: Word cannot start the converter mswrd632.wpc. How can I correct?

Anonymous
2010-01-28T15:50:11+00:00

This error shows up when I try to open certain Word documents using the .doc extension.

Microsoft 365 and Office | Word | For home | Windows

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Ramesh 181.8K Reputation points Volunteer Moderator
2010-01-28T17:38:25+00:00

Hi LMatth,

Look at the "Known Issues" section of this Microsoft article.

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/973904

<excerpt>

Let me fix it myself To unregister the mswrd632 converter yourself, edit the registry as follows:

  1. Click Start, click Run, type regedit, and then click OK.
  2. Locate and then click the following registry subkey:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Shared Tools\Text Converters\Import\MSWord6.wpc 3. On the Edit menu, click Delete. 4. Click Yes. 5. Exit Registry Editor.

This change will effectively unregister the converter and disable it for third-party applications and for Microsoft Office. Microsoft Office will use its own text converters to open these kinds of files.

</excerpt>

©2010 Microsoft Corporation.

Ramesh Srinivasan, Microsoft MVP [Windows Desktop Experience]

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Anonymous
2012-04-13T21:34:05+00:00

Solution to this is available here:  http://support.microsoft.com/kb/973904

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  1. Anonymous
    2012-12-04T12:13:26+00:00

    I just experienced the problem you described. I did find a workaround on my wife's laptop. It is running windows xp sp3, office 2003, and 2007 converter package.

    I right clicked on the .doc file, then selected "saveas" and chose the option to save as .docx. Then office word could open the file.

    Hope this helps.

    retired from Mars

    This was the best solution of all.  Saving the file as .docx worked perfectly.  Thank you.

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  2. Anonymous
    2012-12-05T14:03:22+00:00

    It didn't work.  I got this error message: The converter failed to save the file.

    What do I do now?

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  3. Anonymous
    2013-02-05T04:40:14+00:00

    I followed these instructions but it did not work...the document is still gobbledygook but it does not say "cannot start the converter etc.)

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