Member Avatar for zeroth

I've posted here because this problem feels like a nasty of some kind...

Has anyone had any problems with Word? I'm using an old version of Office 2000. I'm running Windows XP Media Center Edition Service Pack 3 (build 2600) - the problem is that Word stops (just started going this in the last few weeks) and says:

Word has encountered an error and needs to close

No explanation, no chance to backup...you know the one. I started noticing this when using the Send dialog from Word to send the doc as an attachment via email. The strange part is that my wife's computer, out of all the 11 computers on our network, same Media Center Edition with SP3, has started doing the same thing.

I'm just considering the troubleshooting parameters with that information when:

This last time this happened to the wife, just now, her computer sends a message...you need to update Word. Can there be an incompatibility that's just cropped up? I've been using this same setup for a few years with no problem. Right now seems like it may be an issue with Outlook but thought I'd ask the group for input. Many Thanks!

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Practical troubleshooting notes for the reported Word crash when using the Send/attach workflow (thread started by ). Common root causes are integration points rather than Word text rendering: the Simple MAPI layer used to hand a document to the default mail client, a corrupted global template or add-in, printer-driver hooks that Word queries on print-related operations, or antivirus/antispam filters that intercept outgoing attachments. As suggested, printer-driver problems are a known, easy-to-check culprit.

First-pass diagnostics that narrow the fault quickly:

  • Inspect the Application error in Event Viewer (Start → Run: eventvwr.msc) and note the faulting module name and exception code — those two values point to whether the crash lives in MAPI, Word itself, a printer driver, or a third-party DLL.
  • Start Word with add-ins/templates disabled to isolate extensions:
    winword /safe
winword /a

    If Word stops crashing in either mode, the issue is an add-in or Normal.dot.

Template / profile / MAPI checks:

  • Rename the Normal.dot template (XP path example):
    %USERPROFILE%\Application Data\Microsoft\Templates\Normal.dot

    Word will recreate it.

  • Test sending via Explorer (right-click file → Send To → Mail Recipient). If Explorer also crashes, the problem is MAPI/system-wide rather than Word-only. Check or reset the default mail client in Control Panel and consider reinstalling the mail client if MAPI is implicated.

Other targeted checks:

  • Switch the default printer to a basic local driver (Generic/Text Only or a virtual printer) to test ’s theory.
  • Temporarily disable email-scanning in any antivirus/antispam product (offline while testing if possible) to rule out scanning hooks.
  • Run Office Detect/Repair or, if recent updates coincide with the failures on both machines, consider rolling back the update or using System Restore.

If Event Viewer names a module (for example mapi32.dll, a printer-driver DLL, or a third-party add-in), that exact module is the next lead. Because Office 2000 is long unsupported, persistent failures are a strong signal to migrate the sending step to an up-to-date mail client or a newer Office build for long-term reliability.

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Member Avatar for MatEpp

You didn't happen to hook up a new printer when this started happening did you?

I ask because I have a similar error in word related to my printer that there is no solution for except to change my default printer.

Member Avatar for zeroth

no new printers...

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