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
    2011-03-30T12:58:01+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

    Retired ... You got it spot on.  "Save As" docx and the document opened up straight off!  Thanks so much for your expertise!

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  2. Anonymous
    2011-03-23T16:58:21+00:00

    Can someone PLEASE help me? I am getting this error when I try to open a Word document sent to me. I am currently using MS Word 2010, and I believe this doc was created using Word 97-2003. I have tried the fix deleting the MSWord6.wpc using the directions above, I have tried downloading the fix from Microsoft's website - nothing is working! It's of the utmost importance that I be able to access and edit this document, so someone please assist! :)

    Thank you!!

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  3. Anonymous
    2011-03-22T19:02:47+00:00

    One thing I noticed when I ran into this is that all the files that I was trying to open and getting this error on, were very small (~0.1kb and had a filename beginning with ~$.  I believe these are temp files that open when you open a word doc.  They SHOULD disappear when word is closed, but clearly sometimes they don't.  Trying to open one of those files throws that error.  Make sure you are opening the full file, and not some weird temp/phantom file.

    hope that helps

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