Insert Object Command Unavailable

Last reviewed: July 30, 1997
Article ID: Q96044
The information in this article applies to:
  • Microsoft Word for Windows versions 2.0, 2.0a, 2.0a-CD, 2.0b, 2.0c

SYMPTOMS

The Object command is not available (is dimmed) on the Word for Windows Insert menu.

CAUSE

  • You did not install the applications that support linking and embedding (OLE) when you ran the Setup program.

    -or-

  • The Windows REG.DAT file is damaged.

    -or-

- Your SHELL.DLL file may be the incorrect version or may be damaged.

This problem also occurs in Windows Write. In both Word and Write, this symptom usually points to a problem with REG.DAT.

MORE INFORMATION

To Determine If the OLE Server Applications Are Installed

  • Check your Windows WIN.INI file for an [Embedding] section.

    If your Windows WIN.INI file contains an [Embedding] section, the Windows REG.DAT file may be damaged. See the section on REG.DAT in this article.

    If WIN.INI does not contain an [Embedding] section, the OLE server applications supplied with Word for Windows (MS Graph, Equation Editor, MS Draw, MS WordArt) were not installed during Setup. After you install them and then restart Windows, the Object command should be available from the Insert menu in Word.

    To Install the OLE Server Applications --------------------------------------

    1. Run the Word Setup program. For more information on using the

          Setup program, see pages 8-11 in the version 2.0 "Microsoft Word
          for Windows Getting Started" manual.
    

    2. When prompted to choose a type of installation, choose the

          Custom Installation button.
    

    3. Select the Draw, Graph, Equation Editor, and WordArt check boxes.

          Clear all other check boxes and then choose the Setup button.
    

To Determine Whether Your REG.DAT File Is Damaged

  • In Windows Program Manager, choose Run from the File menu and type "regedit /v" (without the quotation marks). If REG.DAT is damaged, an error message appears.

    To Rebuild a Damaged REG.DAT File ---------------------------------

    1. Exit Windows.

    2. Rename the REG.DAT file, located in the Windows directory, to

          REG.OLD.
    

    3. Restart Windows.

    4. In Windows Program Manager, choose Run from the File menu. Type

          "regedit" (without the quotation marks) and choose the OK
          button.
    

    5. From the File menu, choose Merge Registration File.

    6. In the Windows SYSTEM subdirectory, select the SETUP.REG file

          and choose the OK button.
    

    7. Exit and restart Windows to activate the reconstructed REG.DAT

          file.
    

    NOTE: Word version 2.0b for Windows supplies a file, WW20.REG, that contains information that you can use to restore Word for Windows information in the Windows version 3.1 REG.DAT file. For instructions on using WW20.REG to restore Word REG.DAT information, see the README.DOC file located in the Word program directory.

If the Object command on the Insert menu is still unavailable after you have rebuilt REG.DAT, you should replace your SHELL.DLL file.

To Replace SHELL.DLL

  1. Delete SHELL.DLL from the Windows SYSTEM subdirectory.

  2. Replace the deleted SHELL.DLL with a new copy from the Word for Windows Setup disk.

REFERENCES

"Getting Started with Microsoft Windows," version 3.1, pages 70-71

README.DOC for Word version 2.0b of Windows


KBCategory: kbole
KBSubcategory:
Additional query words: win31 3.10 grey gray greyed grayed winword2
winword repair fix reconstruct corrupt fixed 2.0 2.0a 2.0a-CD 2.0b
2.0c

Version : 2.0 2.0a 2.0a-CD 2.0b 2.0c


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Last reviewed: July 30, 1997
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