[Tecolote]

I use Office2000 with Windows98SE. Lately, I've been unable to use Word's Find files feature, which permits you to find, e.g., any files stored in a folder that contain specified text. I rely on this feature for writing, and would really appreciate any help.

I have folders containing Word documents that I need to search periodically to see which contain a specified word or phrase. The feature used to work fine. Now when I run Word's Find feature, Word shuts down and gives an error message: "Word has caused an invalid page fault in module KERNEL32.DLL at [various memory locations]."

I have tried using Word's Detect & Repair feature, but this will not cure the problem.

Many thanks for your help!

 

[Anne Troy]

It could just be your normal.dot file, Tecolote.

Here's complete Word troubleshooting, IN ORDER.

 

[Tecolote]

Dreamboat,

Many thanks for responding. I've read your Troubleshooting Word instructions (very clearly written: thanks!), and have followed Steps 1-4. No luck: When I try to search for files containing a specified word in a directory of Word files, I still get the same error message: "Word has caused an invalid page fault in modeul KERNEL32.DLL..."

I'm trying to meet a publisher's deadline for a book, and have to be able to locate files this way. Does it sound to you as though Steps 5-6 are likely to help with the problem I'm having? If so, I'll continue with those steps.

Many, many thanks!

 

[Anne Troy]

See if this helps: http://www.all-windows.com/msoffice_kernel32_word.html
Sorry 'bout the popups.

Also, Step 5 may help too. I'm not sure. I don't think it will hurt. You can always delete the new Word folder that gets created and rename the old one back if you lose anything (you probably won't).

 

[Tecolote]

Dreamboat,

Thank you again for your persevering help! I went to the web site you suggested. As I understand it, if I start Word with the /a switch and the invalid page fault continues to occur, then deleting the Word data key from the registry won't help. Do you think this reasoning is right?

I've read several linked Microsoft articles. It seems like the best option at this point might be to start Word in safe mode with and without the /a switch, which I'll try. If I have any luck, I'll let you know. (And I will share any success with the other subscriber.)

If any other ideas occur to you, believe me they are most welcome! Many thanks.

 

[Anne Troy]

None of these things will grossly hurt your Word, nor are they undoable.
Just do them. Don't strain yourself.
I'm leaving for about 24 hours. Going to a B&B with my hubby.
Hope there's a message in my inbox saying it's solved.
If not, we'll have to look around some more.

 

[Tecolote]

Dreamboat,

I hope you had a good B & B vacation. Sounds nice!

I did everything you suggested: Steps 1-6, including reinstalling Windows 98SE and also uninstalling Office and then using Eraser to get rid of all vestiges of Office. But the invalid page fault in Word kept recurring when I used the Word feature to find files that contain specified text.

My wife suggested I remove all recent Word files from the folders I was searching. I did this for all files dating back to the approximate time that the invalid page fault problem began. And lo! the problem disappeared. I gradually put the removed Word files back in the folder, one at a time, re-testing the Find files command each time. Until I struck pay dirt with the very last (of course!) file.

Somehow that Word file had gotten corrupted, and if things keep working right, then that was the problem. Just trying to open the aberrant file would cause Word to shut down. I copied its contents to WordPad, then created a new Word document, and deleted the original corrupted Word file.

Now everything seems to be working fine. I learned a lot in the process, and thank you for your excellent technical help!

All best,

Tecolote (Steven)

 

[Tecolote]

P. S. to Dreamboat --

I can't find TSG to share this solution. Could you either tell me now or forward my reply to him in case it will help?

A last question: In the process of reinstalling Office and running Repair several times, there are now several duplicate entries for Office under Startup. How do you get rid of duplicate entries?

Many thanks!

Steven (Tecolote)