Article ID: 157666 - Last Review: January 19, 2007 - Revision: 1.1 WD97: Cannot Open Word 97 Documents in Word 6.0 or 7.0This article was previously published under Q157666 On This PageSYMPTOMS
When you attempt to open a Microsoft Word 97 document into Microsoft Word
version 6.x or 7.x, the document contains garbage characters.
CAUSE
The document file format used to save files for Word 97 has changed. Word
version 6.x or 7.x cannot read this format.
RESOLUTIONWindowsThe best way to open a Word 97 document in Word 6.x or 7.x for Windows is to use the Word 97-2000 Import Converter. For information about how to obtain the Word 97-2000 converter, please see the following article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:162214
(http://support.microsoft.com/kb/162214/EN-US/
)
WD: How to Obtain the Word 97-2000 Import Converter
MacintoshThe best way to open a Word 97 for Windows document in an earlier version of Word for the Macintosh is to use the Word 97-98-2000 Import Converter.For additional information, please see the following article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base: 184128
(http://support.microsoft.com/kb/184128/EN-US/
)
WD: How to Obtain the Word 97-98-2000 Converter
WORKAROUND
Use one of the following methods to open a Word 97 document into an earlier
version of Word:
Method 1: In Word 97, Save the Document as a Word 6.0/95 File
162602
(http://support.microsoft.com/kb/162602/EN-US/
)
WD97: Questions About Saving in the Word 6.0/95 File Format
Method 2: In Word 97, save the document as Rich Text Format (*.rtf)
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