Word 2003 Crash typing the word "pilot"

[Patti R]

Word 2003 crashes ("Word has encountered a problem and needs to close") every
time I type the word "pilot", right when I type the "o" (it autorecovers). I
rebooted, started with the same document, and then rebooted again and started
wtih a 100% clean document. Same problem every time. I've had numerous Word
crashes ever since I installed I installed brand new Office 2003 in the last
month. What is going on here? I've used Office for years and have never had
these crash problems until installation of Office 2003 Professional.

I have all of the Windows and Office updates. I also run antivirus,
antispam, etc. Word does NOT crash upon opening. I can't find this problem
in previous posts - it is not on word opening nor on copy/paste.

 

[Herb Tyson [MVP]]

It sounds like a corrupt file or registry entry. Does it do it when you
start in Safe Mode? Hold down the Ctrl key as you're starting Word -- click
Yes to starting in Safe Mode.

See here for additional steps in diagnosing/fixing:

http://www.officearticles.com/word/steps_to_troubleshooting_microsoft_word.htm

 

[Patti R]

That link does not work (?)

It sounds like a corrupt file or registry entry. Does it do it when you
start in Safe Mode? Hold down the Ctrl key as you're starting Word -- click
Yes to starting in Safe Mode.

See here for additional steps in diagnosing/fixing:

http://www.officearticles.com/word/steps_to_troubleshooting_microsoft_word.htm

 

[Suzanne S. Barnhill]

Try http://word.mvps.org/FAQs/AppErrors/ProbsOpeningWord.htm

 

[Patti R]

Well, you have been very helpful. Here is what the problem was: there was a
smart tag named "PilotDesktopIcon" (from my Palm add-in to word), which was
somehow causing the crash. I renamed normal.dot, verified that I didn't have
the problem, and then went searching. I checked the registry and found the
value in a registry key. I suspected auto-correct, but it was actually a
smart tag. I removed the smart tag and it now works fine. Don't know why
the smart tag never actually showed up on the screen, unless it is because
the tag was a graphic and not text.

This is truly wierd and unexpected. Glad it looks like I don't have to
reinstall Office... the next few weeks will tell. Something to pass on to
others for troubleshooting!

 

[Suzanne S. Barnhill]

Thanks for the feedback. If I were Palm-enabled, I might have tumbled to the
likelihood of a connection. <g>