2007: This document could not be registered

[Max4]

When I try create a new Word 2007 file (New, Blank Document, Create) I get
the following error:

"This document could not be registered. It will not be possible to create
links from other documents to this document."

I have rebooted the computer and continue to get the error. I have been
running Office 2007 for about a week with no trouble, but I get this error
every time in Word now.

I'm running Windows XP with all patches.

Any suggestions on what the problem might be?

Thanks.

 

[Herb Tyson [MVP]]

That error usually indicates registry corruption. The article shown here:

http://word.mvps.org/FAQs/AppErrors/ProbsOpeningWord.htm

shows how to check for a corrupt registry key. Note that the article hasn't
been updated for Word 2007, but the steps are similar to those used for
earlier versions.

I would first try starting word using the /a switch, and see if that "fixes"
the problem. If it does, but the problem returns when /a is removed, then
look into renaming or deleting Word 2007's data key in the registry.

 

[Max4]

Herb,

Thanks for the suggestions. I ran through the instructions and deleted the
registry key. When I open Word after deleting the key, I get the same error
message, specifically for the file name "buildingblocks.dotx", which I assume
is like the normal.dot template from older Word versions. I do not get the
error message when I re-launch Word after that to a blank new document.
However, if I open an existing Word file it gives me the error again.

The error pops up when I open a .docx file I created as well as .doc files
emailed to me.

So, no luck with /a switch or deleting the registry key.

Thanks again for the suggestion,

Max

 

[Jay Freedman]

Hi Max,

Lots of people have been having trouble with corrupted copies of
Building Blocks.dotx. Try deleting it and letting Word rebuild it. See
"Fixing Building Blocks" at http://pschmid.net/blog/2006/11/13/80 for
details of where to find it.

--
Regards,
Jay Freedman
Microsoft Word MVP
Email cannot be acknowledged; please post all follow-ups to the
newsgroup so all may benefit.

 

[Max4]

Thanks for the idea, Jay. I do not get the original error with
Buildingblocks.dotx anymore, after following your instructions. However I do
still get it with any existing Word documents.

Thanks for the ideas. At some point I'll get my "express" Vista upgrade and
Office will get re-installed anyway, which may be what is required.

Max

 

[Herb Tyson [MVP]]

Is the retail version of Office 2007 the only version you've used? You
didn't mention having had the beta installed, so that possibility didn't
occur to me. If you did have one of the betas installed, try deleting or
renaming normal.dotm as well as any existing normal.dot files still hanging
about in the templates folder (maybe even if you didn't have a beta
installed). Normal.dotm, not buildingblocks.dotx, is the replacement for
Normal.dot. If you don't have a normal.dotm, then Word 2007 will use an
existing Normal.dot when you first open Word. So, if the problem was caused
by a corrupt normal.dot, then you'll need to rename or delete both it and
the new normal.dotm.