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
    2011-02-04T09:30:24+00:00

    I use Word 2003, and I occasionally encounter this error message, usually with a file from Word 2004 (not Word 2007 and Word 2010).

    Normally: not a problem. That is, since I have an up-to-date converter installed, Word 2003 recognizes the version, cautions me that I will not be able to use the features of the more recent version, and then without intervention converts the file so that I can edit as usual in Word 2003. Then, when I save, the converter saves in the original file format.

    When I encounter the problem, this work-around has worked consistently. In Word 2003:

    >Tools

    >Options

    >General tab

    >check: "Confirm conversion at open."

    Then, Word 2003 tries to open the problem file, stops, and asks me if I want to convert. After I assent, Word 2003 converts and opens the file. I can then edit as usual. When I save the file, the converter saves in the original format.

    Then, to avoid the additional step that is usually not necessary, I undo the change:

    >Tools

    >Options

    >General tab.

    >uncheck "Confirm conversion at open."

    A bit cumbersome, but it avoids the registry edit and has worked consistently over several years.

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  2. Anonymous
    2011-02-04T12:54:58+00:00

    Hi,

    Well , few months back one of our client also experiened some kind of issue. We had sucesfully fixed this using following methods

    Remove below registery key.

    1. HKEY_LOCAL_Machine\Software\Microsoft\Shared Tools\Text Converters\Import\MSWord6.Wpc

    Remove following files also.

    1. C:\Program files\Common files\Microsoft Shared\TextConv\msword632.cnv
    2. C:\Program files\Common files\Microsoft SHared\TextConv\msrd832.cnv

    Cheers!!!!!!!!!!!

    Best regards,

    Arun M.S

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  3. Anonymous
    2011-03-02T12:29:42+00:00

    Perfect. Thanks

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