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Symptoms

When you try to start Microsoft Office Word 2003, you may receive an error message that is similar to the following error message:

Word can't display the template used in this document. Word cannot install the necessary files due to Windows Installer error 1605. This action is only valid for products that are currently installed.


Word does not start.

Cause

This issue may occur if there is a problem with a template in the Word Startup folder.

Resolution

To resolve this issue, determine which template causes the issue, and then delete that template from the Word startup folder. To determine which template causes the issue, remove each template from the Word startup folder, and then test by trying to start Word. To do this, follow these steps:

  1. Quit any running programs.

  2. In Windows Explorer, click Folder Options on the Tools menu. Click the View tab, click to select the Show hidden files and folders check box, and then click OK.

  3. Locate the
    drive
    :\Documents and Settings\username\Application Data\Microsoft\Word\Startup folder, where drive refers to the drive that Windows is installed on and username refers to your user name.

  4. On the File menu, point to New, and then click Folder.

  5. Type Temp, and then press ENTER.

  6. Click the first template that is listed in the Startup folder, and then move it to the Temp folder.

  7. Try to start Word.

  8. If Word starts successfully, you have removed the conflicting template. If you receive an error message, repeat steps 5 through 7 until Word starts successfully.

  9. After you have determined which template causes the conflict, move all the non-conflicting templates from the Temp folder to the Startup folder.

  10. Click the Temp folder, and then press DELETE.

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