WD2000: Errors Starting the Visual Basic Editor

ID: Q212669

The information in this article applies to:

Microsoft Word 2000

SYMPTOMS

When you try to start the Visual Basic Editor, one or more of the following error messages may appear:

Could not open macro storage.

The Visual Basic Environment could not be initialized. Please run Setup to install it correctly.

Word could not fire event.

CAUSE

Possible causes for these errors include the following:

Insufficient disk space or low memory. This is the most common cause.

A corrupt Word default template (Normal.dot) file.

A wrong version for the Vbe6.dll file.

A network rights (permissions) issue, if the Temp directory is on a server.

RESOLUTION

To prevent these errors from occurring, perform the following methods:

Method 1: Rename the default Word Normal template.

If you are working in Word, close Word.

Find the Normal template file. The default location for Windows NT and Windows 95 or Windows 98 with profiles is

<Windows Folder>\Profiles\<username>\Application Data\Microsoft\Templates

Or Windows 95 and Windows 98 without profiles:

<Windows Folder>\Application Data\Microsoft Templates

Click to select Normal.dot.

Type a new name. For example, Normal Old.dot.

After you perform Method 1, if the error continues, perform steps 1-4 again to rename Normal Old.dot back to Normal.dot. Continue using any of the following methods.

Method 2: Add RAM or increase hard disk space.

If your computer has insufficient disk space or memory, do one of the following:

Add more RAM to your computer.

As a short-term solution, you can free RAM by shutting down unneeded programs.

Increase your hard disk space. For example, add a larger hard disk or remove files that you no longer need to store on your hard disk.

Restart Windows.

Method 3: Rename and reinstall the Vbe6.dll file.

For a corrupt, missing, or wrong version of the Vbe6.dll file, perform the following steps:

NOTE: You need your Office CD to complete this task.

Quit all currently open applications.

Start an MS-DOS prompt in a window by doing the following:

On the Windows taskbar, click Start, point to Programs, and then click MS-DOS Prompt (Windows NT uses Command Prompt).

Change the directory to the location of the Vbe6.dll file by typing the following (including the quotation marks) and then pressing ENTER:

CD "c:\program files\common files\microsoft shared\vba\vba6"

NOTE: This is the default directory for the Vbe6.dll file. If you have installed Microsoft Office into another drive or directory, you need to type its path.

Unregister the Vbe6.dll file by typing the following:

C:\Windows\System\REGSVR32 /U VBE6.DLL

NOTE: This is the default directory for the Windows System directory. If you have installed Windows into another directory, you need to type its path.

In the MS-DOS prompt window, rename Vbe.dll to Vbe.old by typing the following and then pressing ENTER:

rename vbe6.dll vbe6.old

Quit the MS-DOS prompt window.

Start Microsoft Word.

On the Tools menu, point to Macro, and then click Macros.

The Windows Installer will detect that Vbe6.dll is missing on the system, install the file from the Office CD, and re-register it.

Method 4: Check network permissions.

The Visual Basic Editor creates a folder in the Temp directory to store files. If the Temp directory is being accessed via a network share, the network permissions for this folder must have Create permissions. See your network administrator for information about setting permissions.

MORE INFORMATION

For additional information about the Temp folder that the Visual Basic Editor creates, please see the following article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

Q199830 OFF2000: Exd Files Are Created When You Insert Controls

Additional query words: vba vbe


Keywords          : kbdta kbdtacode OffVBA kbwordvba wd2000 vbe xlvbainf 
Version           : WINDOWS:2000
Platform          : WINDOWS 
Issue type        : kbprb

Last Reviewed: June 15, 1999