Microsoft KB Archive/319156

Knowledge Base

HOW TO: Delete the COM Add-ins Registry Key for Word 2002

PSS ID Number: 319156

Article Last Modified on 10/26/2002

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The information in this article applies to:

• Microsoft Word 2002

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This article was previously published under Q319156

IN THIS TASK

• SUMMARY
• ** Turn Off the COM Add-ins

SUMMARY

This step-by-step article describes how to turn off the COM Add-ins, to prevent them from loading when you start Microsoft Word.

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

IMPORTANT: Do not use this procedure until you read and complete the steps in the following article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

319299 HOW TO: Use the Troubleshoot Utility for Problems That Occur When You Start or Use Word 2002

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Turn Off the COM Add-ins

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

1. Quit all Office programs.
2. Click Start, point to Programs (in Microsoft Windows XP, point to All Programs), point to Microsoft Office Tools, and then click Word 2002 Support Template.
3. In the Word 2002 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. Click OK when you receive the following message:

   HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Office\Word\Addins
   Backup file for this registry key is present at:
   C:\Windows\TEMP\wdaddn10.0
   
   Registry key has been deleted.

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 the way that you usually do.
   
   NOTE: Do not use the shortcut under Microsoft Office Tools (click Start and point to Programs).
9. Do one of the following:
   • If you can no longer reproduce the problem, you have determined that a COM add-in is causing the problem. To determine which COM add-in is causing the problem, follow these steps:
     1. Quit all Office programs.
     2. Click Start, point to Programs (in Windows XP, point to All Programs), point to Microsoft Office Tools, and then click Word 2002 Support Template.
     3. In the Word 2002 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 Restore.
     5. Click OK when you receive the following message:

        HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Office\Word\Addins
        
        Registry key restoration successful.

     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 the way that you usually do.
        
        NOTE: Do not use the shortcut in Microsoft Office Tools (click Start and point to Programs).
     9. On the Tools menu, click Customize.
     10. Click the Commands tab. In the Categories list, click Tools.
     11. In the Commands list, click COM Add-Ins, and then drag the command to one of your toolbars.
     12. Click Close to close the Customize dialog box.
     13. Click the COM Add-Ins button that you just added in steps k and l.
     14. In the COM Add-Ins dialog box, if an add-in is listed, click to clear the add-in check box.
         
         NOTE: If more than one add-in is listed, click to clear only one add-in check box at a time, to determine which add-in is causing the problem.
     15. Click OK to close the COM Add-Ins dialog box.
     16. On the File menu, click Exit to quit Word.
     17. Start Word the way that you usually do.
         
         NOTE: Do not use the shortcut under Microsoft Office Tools (click Start and point to Programs).
     18. Do one of the following:
         • If you can no longer reproduce the problem, you have found the COM add-in that is causing the problem. If you must have the features that the add-in item provides, you must determine which Word add-in includes the specific item and contact the vendor for an update.
           
           -or-
         • If the problem is not resolved, click the COM Add-Ins button that you added in steps k and l. Click to select the add-in check box that you cleared in step n. Then click to clear the check box of a different add-in, and repeat steps o through r. Repeat this procedure as many times as needed, for each add-in, until you determine which add-in is causing the problem.

     -or-
     
     

   • If the problem is not resolved, restore your COM add-ins registry key, and then proceed to the next step. To do this, follow these steps:
     1. Quit all Office programs.
     2. Click Start, point to Programs (in Windows XP, point to All Programs), point to Microsoft Office Tools, and then click Word 2002 Support Template.
     3. In the Support.dot template, click the Troubleshoot Utility button.
     4. In the Microsoft Word Troubleshooting Utility dialog box, click COM-Addins Registry Key in the Select an Item list, and then click Restore.
     5. Click OK when you receive the following message:

        HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Office\Word\Addins
        
        Registry key restoration successful.

     6. Click Close to close the Microsoft Word Troubleshooting Utility dialog box.
     7. On the File menu, click Exit to quit Word.

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Keywords: kbhowto kbHOWTOmaster KB319156
Technology: kbWord2002 kbWord2002Search kbWordSearch

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