Microsoft KB Archive/32765

Word Err Msg: “Insufficient Memory” Caused by Corrupt File

PSS ID Number: Q32765 Article last modified on 11-02-1994

3.00 3.10 3.11 4.00 5.00 5.50 6.00

MS-DOS

= SUMMARY =

If you load a corrupt file into Microsoft Word for DOS version 3.0, 3.10, 3.11, 4.0, 5.0, or 5.5, an “Insufficient memory” error message may appear at the bottom of the screen. The message appears if the file header was corrupted, and Word is trying to load more document information into memory than it is designed to handle.

= MORE INFORMATION =

The following are three possible workarounds for this problem:

  Load the backup copy of the file (a file with the extension .BAK). Make sure that you first rename this file using the DOS RENAME command so that Word does not overwrite the file when you save the document in the future.   Use the DOS COPY command. For example, if the original file is called FILE1.DOC, enter the following command at the MS-DOS prompt: COPY CON+FILE1.DOC FILE2.DOC When MS-DOS prompts you for input from the keyboard, press the SPACEBAR eight times, press the F6 key once, and then press ENTER. Note: The “+” character (PLUS SIGN) must appear between CON and FILE1.DOC. This operator concatenates input from the keyboard with the contents of FILE1.DOC, and MS-DOS outputs the result into FILE2.DOC. FILE2.DOC should now be available to attempt to load into Word.   In Word 5.0 and 5.5, convert the file to rich-text format (RTF) format and back to Word format, following the steps below:   Type RTF_DOS at the MS-DOS prompt in your Word subdirectory and press ENTER.   At the first converter prompt, type the path and filename of the source (corrupted) file and press ENTER.   At the second converter prompt, type a new name and path for the destination RTF file and press ENTER.   When the conversion is complete, type RTF_DOS at the MS-DOS prompt again. At the first converter prompt, enter the name and path of the RTF file; at the second converter prompt, type FILE2.DOC. FILE2.DOC should now be available to attempt to load into Word.  </li></ol>

Microsoft Word for DOS versions 4.0 and earlier do not support RTF conversion.

Note: If a file is corrupt, these methods may not work. For more information on the COPY command, consult your MS-DOS reference manual. KBCategory: kbother kberrmsg KBSubcategory: ============================================================================= Copyright Microsoft Corporation 1994.