WD: Macintosh, When and How to Rebuild the Registration Database

• Microsoft Word for the Macintosh, versions 6.0, 6.0.1, 6.0.1a

SUMMARY

This article explains when and how to rebuild the Registration Database files on the Macintosh operating system. This troubleshooting step rules out the possibility that the Registration Database files are damaged (corrupted).

When to Rebuild the Registration Databases

You may want to rebuild the Registration Databases as part of normal troubleshooting for the following problems (this list is not exclusive):

• OLE 2.0 problems (not OLE 1.0 problems)
• Maintenance mode setup problems in which the Microsoft Word Setup program incorrectly indicates that items have not been installed when, in fact, they are installed.
• Word cannot locate its Help files. Word prompts you for the location of the Word Help file, even when the Help files are correctly installed in the Word Folder. If rebuilding the Macintosh Desktop does not resolve this problem, then you should rebuild the Registration Database files.

How to Rebuild the Registration Database

1. Quit any open programs.

2. Open the Preferences Folder in the System Folder.

3. Back up the Registration Database file by copying it to a floppy disk.

4. Delete the Registration Database file and the PPC Registration Database file from the Preferences:System Folder on your hard disk.

5. Close the System Folder.

6. Open the Microsoft Folder, which is located at the same level as the Word 6 folder.

7. Double-click each program in the Microsoft Folder to register it.

8. Start Word to register it.

MORE INFORMATION

When you install a program, Setup registers the application in the Registration Database file and the PPC Registration Database file. The Registration Database file and the PPC Registration Database file also contains information about OLE 2.0 functionality.

NOTE: The Embedding Preferences file contains information regarding OLE 1.0 functionality. If you delete either the Registration Database, the PPC Registration Database, or the Embedding Preferences file, the system re-creates the file when you start an OLE 1.0 or OLE 2.0 program. However, rebuilding the Registration Database files will have the following effects:

• The ClipArt Gallery does not register and is therefore not available from PowerPoint. The only workaround is to re-install PowerPoint.
• The Custom dictionary will be missing from Word. To re-establish the Custom Dictionary, choose Options from the Tools menu, click the Spell tab, click Add, browse to the correct folder, and select the Custom dictionary.
• Maintenance mode is lost and no longer accessible. There is no workaround for this at this time. The only option is to re-install Office.

For a list of files that are installed by Word 6, please see the following articles in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

   ARTICLE-ID: Q119439
   TITLE     : List of Files and File Locations Installed by Mac Word 6.0

   ARTICLE-ID: Q128844
   TITLE     : Word 6.0.1: Location of Files on Setup Disks