Error message when you open a document file in Windows XP Service Pack 2

Article ID: 883090 - View products that this article applies to.


Important This article contains information about modifying the registry. Before you modify the registry, make sure to back it up and make sure that you understand how to restore the registry if a problem occurs. For information about how to back up, restore, and edit the registry, click the following article number to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:
256986
(http://support.microsoft.com/kb/256986/ )
Description of the Microsoft Windows Registry
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SYMPTOMS

When you try to open a document file, such as a .doc or .wri file, in Microsoft Windows XP Service Pack 2 (SP2), you may receive the following error message:
Cannot load Word for Windows 6.0 files
A document may open with WordPad and may have extraneous or garbage characters at the beginning and at the end of the file.
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CAUSE

Rich Text Format (RTF) converters are disabled in Windows XP SP2.
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RESOLUTION

Warning If you use Registry Editor incorrectly, you may cause serious problems that may require you to reinstall your operating system. Microsoft cannot guarantee that you can solve problems that result from using Registry Editor incorrectly. Use Registry Editor at your own risk.

To enable RTF converters in Windows XP SP2, you must modify the registry. To do this, follow these steps:
  1. Click Start, click Run, type regedit, and then press ENTER.
  2. Locate and then click one of the following registry subkeys:
    HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Applets\Wordpad
    HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Applets\Wordpad
  3. Click Edit, click New, click DWORD Value, type EnableLegacyConverters, and then press ENTER.
  4. Right-click EnableLegacyConverters, click Modify, and then change the Value data to 1.
  5. Click OK, and then quit Registry Editor.
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STATUS

This behavior is by design.
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MORE INFORMATION

The following programs have been reported to be affected by this problem. This list may not include all affected programs.

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High School Advantage 2003
The Lion King Animated Story Book v.1
Visual C++ 2.0 16 bit
Tonka Search and Rescue v1 Software
Quicken 2003 Premier Home and Business v.12.0
Starcraft Expansion Set: Brood War 1.04
PhotoShop Elements 2.0
FreeHand 8 v.8.0
PageMaker 6.5
PageMaker 7.0
FileMaker Pro v.5.0
ViaVoice10
Quicken 2004
Smartsuite Millennium Edition - ScreenCam 9.5 (German)
Encyclopedia Britannica Ready Reference 2003
Command & Conquer Red Alert 2, 1.0
Command & Conquer Red Alert 2
Adventure Workshop 1st-3rd - Storybook Weaver (English)
Winnie the Pooh and the Honey Tree Animated Storybook
Print Shop Deluxe v. 2.0 (16-bit)
Adventure Workshop Preschool - Reader Rabbit Thinking Adventures Ages 4-6 (English)
Turbo Tax Deluxe v98
WordPerfect Family Pack 5 - Encyclopedia Britannica Ready Reference 2003

For information about your hardware manufacturer, visit the following Web site:
http://support.microsoft.com/gp/vendors/en-us
(http://support.microsoft.com/gp/vendors/en-us)
The third-party products that this article discusses are manufactured by companies that are independent of Microsoft. Microsoft makes no warranty, implied or otherwise, regarding the performance or reliability of these products.
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Properties

Article ID: 883090 - Last Review: October 25, 2004 - Revision: 3.4
APPLIES TO
  • Microsoft Windows XP Professional SP2
  • Microsoft Windows XP Home Edition SP2
  • Microsoft Windows Server 2003, Standard Edition (32-bit x86)
  • Microsoft Windows Server 2003, Enterprise Edition (32-bit x86)
  • Microsoft Windows Server 2003, Datacenter Edition (32-bit x86)
  • Microsoft Windows Server 2003, Web Edition
Keywords: 
kbtshoot kbgames kbappcompatibility kbprb KB883090
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