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
    2010-08-04T05:01:11+00:00

    Not only didn't it work, I lost a file that made after the notice.

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  2. Anonymous
    2010-09-19T20:16:02+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

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  3. Anonymous
    2010-09-30T13:13:26+00:00

    Hello Mr.Srinivasan,

    I have followed your instruction and deleted the file MSWord6.wpc and restarted my computer but the problem is same. I don't have this message as before but Word document was not able to open properly; it is look strange to me. What I can do now?

    Dee.

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