Microsoft KB Archive/822127

Knowledge Base

How to delete the COM add-ins registry key for Word 2003

PSS ID Number: 822127

Article Last Modified on 9/2/2004

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The information in this article applies to:

• Microsoft Office Word 2003

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For a Microsoft Word 2002 version of this article, see 319156.

IN THIS TASK

• SUMMARY
  • Install the Support Template
  • Create a Shortcut to the Support Template
  • Turn Off the COM Add-In Programs
    • Determine the COM Add-In Program That Causes This Problem
    • Restore Your COM Add-Ins Registry Key

SUMMARY

This article describes how to turn off the COM add-in programs to prevent them from loading when you start Microsoft Word.

COM add-in programs can be installed in any location. They are installed by programs that interact with Word.

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Install the Support Template

With the Support Template, you can troubleshoot Word startup problems. The Support Template is installed when you perform a Complete setup. If you installed Microsoft Office Word 2003 as an Upgrade or Typical setup, the Support Template is not installed.

To install the Support Template, follow these steps:

1. Click Start, and then click Control Panel.
2. Click Add or Remove Programs.
3. Click Change or Remove Programs.
4. In the Currently installed programs list, click your version of Microsoft Office 2003 (for example, click Microsoft Office Professional Edition 2003), and then click Change.
5. Click Add or Remove Features, and then click Next.
6. In Custom Setup, click to select the Choose advanced customization of applications check box, and then click Next.
7. In the Choose update options for applications and tools list, follow these steps:
   1. Expand Microsoft Office Word.
   2. Expand Wizards and Templates.
   3. Click the More Templates and Macros icon, and then click to select the Run all from my computer check box.
8. Click Update to install the Support Template.

Create a Shortcut to the Support Template

To create a shortcut to the Support Template, follow these steps:

1. Right-click anywhere on your desktop, point to New, and then click Shortcut.
2. In the Create Shortcut dialog box, click anywhere in the Type the location of the item box, and then type the following default path statement: "C:\Program Files\Microsoft Office\Office11\Winword.exe" /a "C:\Program Files\Microsoft Office\Office11\Macros\Support.dot"
   

Note If you installed Word 2003 in a different location, change the default file path accordingly.

1. Click Next to continue.
2. In the Type a name for this shortcut box, type Support Template, and then click Finish.

When you double-click the shortcut, Word starts in a default condition. The Support Template opens.

Turn Off the COM Add-In Programs

To delete the Windows registry settings for any COM add-in programs that are installed, follow these steps:

1. Quit all Office programs.
2. Double-click the Support Template icon on your desktop.
3. In the Word 2003 Support Template, click Troubleshoot Utility.
4. In the Microsoft Word Troubleshooting Utility dialog box, click COM-Addins Registry Key in the Select an Item list, and then click Delete.
5. When you receive a message that the HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Office\Word\Addins registry key has been deleted, click OK.
6. Click Close to close the Microsoft Word Troubleshooting Utility dialog box.
7. On the File menu, click Exit to quit Word.
8. Start Word.
9. Complete one of the following procedures, as appropriate for your situation:
   • If the problem is resolved when you start Word, go to the "Determine the COM Add-In Program That Causes This Problem" section of this article.
   • If the problem is not resolved when you start Word, go to the "Restore Your COM Add-Ins Registry Key" section of this article.

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Determine the COM Add-In Program That Causes This Problem

If the problem is resolved, you have determined that a COM add-in program is causing the problem. To determine the COM add-in program that causes the problem, follow these steps:

1. Quit all Office programs. Double-click the Support Template icon on your desktop.
2. In the Word 2003 Support Template, click Troubleshoot Utility.
3. In the Microsoft Word Troubleshooting Utility dialog box, in the Select an Item list, click COM-Addins Registry Key, and then click Restore.
4. When you receive a message that the HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Office\Word\Addins registry key has been restored successfully, click OK.
5. Click Close to close the Microsoft Word Troubleshooting Utility dialog box.
6. On the File menu, click Exit to quit Word.
7. Start Word, and then click Customize on the Tools menu.
8. In the Customize dialog box, click Commands.
9. In the Categories list, click Tools.
10. In the Commands list, click COM Add-Ins, and then drag the command to one of your toolbars. Close the Customize dialog box.
11. To open the COM Add-Ins dialog box, click the COM Add-Ins button that you just added to your toolbar.
    

Note If an add-in program is listed in the COM Add-Ins dialog box, click to clear the add-in check box. If more than one add-in program is listed, click to clear only one add-in check box at a time, to determine the add-in program that causes the problem.

1. Click OK to close the COM Add-Ins dialog box.
2. On the File menu, click Exit to quit Word.
3. Start Word.
4. Do one of the following, as appropriate for your situation:
   • If the problem is resolved when you start Word, you have determined the COM add-in program that causes the problem. If you require the features that the add-in program provides, you must determine which Word add-in program includes the specific feature and contact the vendor for an update.
     

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1. • If the problem is not resolved when you start Word, click the COM Add-Ins button that you added to your toolbar. Click to select the add-in check box that you cleared, as noted in step 11. Click to clear the check box of a different add-in, and then repeat steps 12 through 15. Repeat this procedure as many times as you have to, for each add-in program, until you determine the add-in program that causes the problem.

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Restore Your COM Add-Ins Registry Key

If the problem is not resolved when you restart Word, restore your COM add-ins registry key. To do this, follow these steps:

1. Quit all Office programs, and then double-click the Support Template icon on your desktop.
2. In the Support Template, click Troubleshoot Utility.
3. In the Microsoft Word Troubleshooting Utility dialog box, click COM-Addins Registry Key in the Select an Item list, and then click Restore.
4. When you receive a message that states that the HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Office\Word\Addins registry key has been restored successfully, click OK.
5. Click Close to close the Microsoft Word Troubleshooting Utility dialog box.
6. On the File menu, click Exit to quit Word.

For additional information about the Support Template, click the following article number to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

820919 How To Use the Troubleshoot Utility for Problems That Occur When You Start or Use Word 2003

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Additional query words: wd2003

Keywords: kbAddIn kbhowto KB822127
Technology: kbWord2003 kbWord2003Search kbWordSearch

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