OL2000: Error Message: "Word Could Not Start the Converter <file name>"

When you start a mail merge in Outlook, the following error message may appear: where <file name> refers to an installed Microsoft Word converter.

The file referred to in the error message is a missing or corrupt converter file. However, it is not necessarily one you are trying to use. When Word begins the merge operation, it validates the converter files found on the computer against their pointers in the registry. If there is a discrepancy, this error message is generated.

If you need the converter referenced in the message, reinstall it on your computer. Otherwise remove the reference to it in the registry.

To Reinstall the Converter

If the referenced converter is already installed on your computer, rename it before reinstalling the converters. For more information on reinstalling the Word converters, see the REFERENCES section.

To Remove the Registry Reference to the Converter

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.

1. Close Outlook and Word if they are running.
2. Click Start, click Run, type REGEDIT, and click OK.
3. Click to select the following registry entry:
   HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE
4. On the Edit menu, click Find.
5. In the Find what window, type the name of the file displayed in the error message.
6. When the file is found, right-click it and then click Delete on the shortcut menu.
7. Close the Registry Editor, restart Outlook, and reinitiate the mail merge.

To Initiate a Mail Merge from Outlook

1. In the Contacts folder, on the Tools menu, click Mail Merge.
2. In the Mail Merge Contacts dialog box, select the merge options:
   
   
   • Under Contacts, specify which contact records you wish to use.
     
     
   • Under Fields to merge, specify which contacts fields you wish to use.
     
     
   • Under Document file, specify whether you want to use a new or existing target document (merge template).
     
     
   • Under Contact data file, specify whether you want to save the data file that will be created from your contacts. If you choose to save this file, subsequent merges from it must be initiated from Word.
     
     
   • Under Merge options, specify the document you want to generate, and the medium for the merged output.
3. Click OK.
4. Complete the merge from Word.

For additional information about installing Word converters, click the article numbers below to view the articles in the Microsoft Knowledge Base: