Microsoft KB Archive/88195

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Word for Windows Conversion Launches Windows Write

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Q88195

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The information in this article applies to:


 * Microsoft Word for Windows, versions 2.0, 2.0a, 2.0a-CD, 6.0, 6.0a, 6.0c

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SYMPTOM
In Microsoft Word for Windows, if you open a document and convert it from or save it to a foreign file format, the document may be opened in Microsoft Windows Write instead, and the text of the document will be illegible.

Exception: The document does not open in Windows Write when you open or save a document in one of the following file formats:

WordPerfect version 4.1, 4.2, 5.0, or 5.1

Rich Text Format (RTF)

All Text formats, such as Text Only and Text With Layout

CAUSE
This problem occurs if the following line appears in the [Extensions] section of the Windows WIN.INI file:

cnv=write.exe ^.cnv

WORKAROUND
Delete or disable the &quot;cnv=write.exe ^.cnv&quot; line in the [Extensions] section of the WIN.INI file. To disable the line, type a semicolon at the beginning of the line, as follows:

;cnv=write.exe ^.cnv "or" Remove the association in File Manager. On the File menu, click Associate. In the Files with Extensions box, type cnv. Under Associate With, select (None).

MORE INFORMATION
In Word versions 2.x and 6.x for Windows, the file name of all converters contains a .cnv file extension. If the [Extensions] section of the Win.ini file contains a line that associates another application with the .cnv file extension, the associated application may run when Word for Windows attempts to start a foreign file converter. When this situation occurs, the conversion fails in Word for Windows.

If you open or save a foreign-format file in Word for Windows and the [Extensions] section of your Win.ini file contains a &quot;cnv=write.exe ^.cnv&quot; line, the Convert File dialog box appears. When you choose the OK button, the following Windows Write message appears:

"Text document. Do you want to convert this file to Write format?" Regardless of which button you choose in this dialog box (Convert, No Conversion, or Cancel), the document is opened with illegible characters in Windows Write. When you exit Windows Write, the following dialog box appears in Word for Windows

Word cannot start the converter xxxxx.cnv

where xxxxx.cnv is the name of the converter that Word for Windows is trying to use. If you choose the OK button, Word for Windows displays the following error message:

Word cannot open the document \directory\file name

NOTE: A similar problem occurs in Word versions 1.0, 1.1, and 1.1a for Windows when the [Extensions] section of the WIN.INI includes an association for files with a .DLL extension (the file name of all converters for versions 1.0, 1.1 and 1.1a contain a .DLL file extension).

For additional information, please see the following article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

"Q115784 How the WinWord 6.0 ODA (FOD-26) Converter Is Installed" Additional query words: textconv word6 2.00a 2.00a-CD 2.00b 2.00c 6.00a 6.00c convert converted converts converting conversion transfer transferred transfers transferring translate translated translates translating translation launch startup start up loaded run program w4werror geninfo starting a converter in word starts windows write

Keywords : kbconversion

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