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"Word cannot start converter sspdfcg.cnv" (or sspdfcg_64.cnv)

Anonymous
2019-02-20T14:27:48+00:00

I just installed MS Office Professional Plus 2019 a few days ago. I uninstalled my old copy of MS Office Professional 2010 before doing so as recommended so there should have been no residual issues carried over to the new version.

Immediately and ever since, whenever I open Word or Outlook (I have not tried the other programs in the suite) within a few minutes I get the above error messages.

I have read online that this is associated with Nuance products, specifically, PDF Converter. I uninstalled this software because it wasn't really working properly anymore in any event (it was an older version not recommended for Windows 2010). I also made sure that there were no remnants of this installation in the directory "Program Files" or "Program Files (x86)". And following other advice online I also cleansed the directory using RegEdit of any vestige of Nuance products, especially these two cnv files.

None of this had any effect on removing these annoying warning messages.

So following other advice on this forum, I used the Microsoft Office repair feature from "Apps and Features" -- "Modify" using the online restore option. This caused more problems by invalidating my installation and requiring me to re-enter my Product Key before it would recognise the installation as legitimate. And even now I think it has converted my paid single user license for MS Office Professional Plus 2019 into a one year license for MS Office 360, which I went out my way to avoid by buying a CD version of MS Office Professional Plus 2019.

After all that, these annoying error messages are still appearing every time an Office program is started.

Have others had this persistent problem? And has anyone found the solution? I see no reason why I should pay Microsoft a support fee to properly do a clean install of one of their products without vestiges of old false error messages appearing.

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  1. Anonymous
    2019-02-20T19:08:36+00:00

    Hello André:

    I may have found the solution. At least I have my fingers crossed that this is it.

    I went searching for those two files again ( SSPDFCG.cnv and  SSPDFCG_x64.cnv). Previously I done several searches using File Explorer with "Show Hidden Files" selected and was not able to locate them. This time I searched manually through all of the folders in Program Files and Program Files (x86). In the latter under Common Files there is a folder labelled "microsoft shared" and in there I found a folder labelled "Text Converters". Inside that folder were the two elusive files.

    Clearly, Word was referencing this folder every time it started to load add-ins and finding these two files. But because they were a remnant of the old Nuance installations that no longer existed, they could not execute and thus the error messages "Word cannot start converter SSPDFCG.cnv" (and SSPDFCG_x64.cnv).

    I ran Word after deleting the Text Converters folder and the error messages did not appear as before. I'm hopeful that this has cured the problem completely. If not, I will report back here.

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  2. Anonymous
    2019-02-20T16:47:39+00:00

    It appears whatever Nuance installed, is still there.

    This is what their support page recommends users do:

    Please refer to the following solutions to correct this issue:

    Solution #1: Rename the "SSPDFCG_X64.cnv" file:

    Go to "C:\Program Files\Common Files\Microsoft Shared\TextConv" folder.

Rename "SSPDFCG\_X64.cnv" to "SSPDFCG\_X64.OLD".

    Solution #2: Remove the "Text Converters" Key within the Windows Registry:

    IMPORTANT: This article contains information about editing the Windows registry. Before editing the registry, make sure you understand how to restore it if a problem occurs. Follow the steps below to back up the registry.

    Close Microsoft Word.

    Press Windows key + R

    Type in "regedit" without the quotes press Enter.

Export a backup copy of the Registry in case problems occur during the following procedures by clicking "File > Export".

Save this file to the Windows Desktop and name the file "backup". (Keep "backup" for a few days and if all is well, this file can be deleted.)

Navigate to the following registry key:

    HKEY\_LOCAL\_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Shared Tools\Text Converters

Right-click on the "Text Converters" key and select "Delete".

    Source:

    http://nuance.custhelp.com/app/answers/detail/a...

    Note: This is a non-Microsoft website. The page appears to be providing accurate, safe information. Watch out for ads on the site that may advertise products frequently classified as a PUP (Potentially Unwanted Products). Thoroughly research any product advertised on the site before you decide to download and install it.

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  3. Anonymous
    2019-02-20T19:34:54+00:00

    Thanks for the update Chris. Really glad to hear you are making progress.

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  4. Anonymous
    2019-02-20T15:08:53+00:00

    Hi Chris

    Here is what I recommend you do, uninstall Office again, but this time using the free Revouninstaller:

    How Do I Completely Uninstall Software On Windows? - groovyPost

    https://www.groovypost.com/howto/windows-comple...

    Restart then reinstall Office 2019 again to see if the problem is resolved.

    Information in the above link is sourced from a trusted Microsoft MVP blog.

    Hello André:

    I followed your link and see that it involves buying third party software to presumably ensure a clean uninstall of MS Office Professional Plus 2019. I cannot accept that this is necessary. Surly Microsoft has taken care of ensuring that their products can be cleanly uninstalled.

    I wonder why you would be motivated to make such a suggestion. Do you receive a commission for each purchase of this product? If so, I see that as a conflict of interest in your offering suggestions of this kind on this supposedly volunteer-based community forum.

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  5. Anonymous
    2019-02-20T14:33:23+00:00

    Hi Chris

    Here is what I recommend you do, uninstall Office again, but this time using the free Revouninstaller:

    How Do I Completely Uninstall Software On Windows? - groovyPost

    https://www.groovypost.com/howto/windows-comple...

    Restart then reinstall Office 2019 again to see if the problem is resolved.

    Information in the above link is sourced from a trusted Microsoft MVP blog.

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