To open a Word 97 or Word 2000 document in an earlier version of Microsoft Word (for example: Microsoft Word 6.0 for Windows or Microsoft Word for Windows 95), you must use a text converter in your version of Microsoft Word.

NOTE: You do not need to install either Microsoft Word 97 for Windows or Microsoft Word 2000 to open these documents. Instead, just install the Word 97-2000 Import Converter for use in your existing version of Microsoft Word.

You can download the most recent version of the Word 97-2000 Import Converter from the Microsoft Download Center.

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How to Install the Word 97-2000 Import Converter from the Microsoft Download Center

The following file is available for download from the Microsoft Download Center:
For additional information about how to download Microsoft Support files, click the following article number to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base: Microsoft scanned this file for viruses. Microsoft used the most current virus-detection software that was available on the date that the file was posted. The file is stored on security-enhanced servers that help to prevent any unauthorized changes to the file.

This file includes a Setup program that installs either Msword8.cnv or Mswrd832.cnv on your computer (depending on the version of Word for Windows you are running). The Setup program also installs a Wrd97cnv.doc Readme document.

NOTE: Msword8.cnv is the converter for Word 6.0 for Windows. Mswrd832.cnv is the converter for Word 7.0 for Windows 95.

After you have obtained the Word 97-2000 Import Converter, double-click the Wrd97cnv.exe file to extract and set up the converter. Depending on which version of Word you are currently using, the Setup program installs either the Mswrd832.cnv file (the 32-bit version for Word 7.0) or the Msword8.cnv file (the 16-bit version for Word 6.0). Setup also updates the necessary registry settings. For more information, see the Wrd97cnv.doc file that is installed with the Word 97-2000 Import Converter. For additional information about other text converters that can be installed with the Microsoft Office Converter Pack, click the article number below to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

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