"Word has stopped working" on close

[chiron]

Each time I close Word, it crashes and reports "Word has stoped working." It
then tries to recover my files, look for solutions, etc. Eventually it just
offers a window to close the program. I have tried repairing the office
installation and disabling all add-ins.

Suggestions welcome.

Thank you.

 

[Terry Farrell]

That may be a symptom of a Word Data Key corruption - usually because Word
has been running when updates are installed.

Run Regedit and expand by double-clicking to the key below. With DATA
selected, press DELETE. Word will automatically recreate a new key when it
is restarted.

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Office\12.0\Word\Data

Symptoms of Data Key corruption may include:

• The mouse does not work when you use Word.
• You cannot open a Word document from the Search window in Windows
Vista.
• You cannot open a Word document from Windows Desktop Search.
• Word crashes when you try to start or exit Word.
• Word crashes when you open the Open dialog box.
• Word crashes when you save a document.
• Word crashes when you close a document.

If you feel uncomfortable editing the registry yourself, Microsoft have a
download that will do this for you. See MSKB 940791
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/940791

Terry Farrell - MSWord MVP

 

[chiron]

Thank you, thank you. I wasted 3 hours on this this morning, and your fix
worked in two minutes. I used the automatic microsoft fix (because i am not
comfortable editing keys), and it worked flwawlessly. Thank yo for including
that link.

Peter

 

[strohmoose]

Did not solve the problem for me word 2007 still Says that it has stopped
working...blah blah blah!

 

[Terry Farrell]

So post some details instead of just tagging on to the end of another post.

Terry

 

[Jagboi]

Thank you, thank you, thank you, and thank you again, oh wise one!

I've wasted 7 hours on this problem and you solved it in less than two
minutes. You've got my nomination for sainthood!

 

[Slava]

Hi Terry,

I have the same problem in Word 2003.

I tried to go through the fix manually per your instructions, but could not
find the "data" folder in microsoft/office/12.0/word. The only folder in
there is "wizards".

I tried the link you posted, but apparently the fix only works for Word
2007... Could you please advise?

Thanks in advance. Knowledgeable people like yourself are a lifesaver for
dissasterously tech-unsavvy folk like myself

~Slava

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