Microsoft Word 2003 crashes when opened. HELP please

Question

Microsoft Word 2003 crashes when opened. HELP please

Dan Me 0

Microsoft Word 2003 crashes when opened. HELP pleaseUpon re-installation of Word, I get:

"Error 1919, ODBC data source: Visual FoxPro Database, ODBC error 6. Component not found in registry. Verify file Visual FoxPro exists and you can access it."

Can anyone provide a solution?

Thanks ... Daniel -Removed ******@outlook.com

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2 answers

Your answer

Answer 1

Hendrix-V 13,360 Microsoft External Staff Moderator

Hi Dan Me,

Welcome to the Microsoft Q&A forum.

The error you’re seeing (Error 1919 – ODBC data source: Visual FoxPro Database) typically occurs when certain data access components required by Word 2003 are missing or not correctly registered on the system. As a result, Word may fail to open or complete installation.

If possible, please let me know the following information:

Your Windows version (XP / 7 / 10 / 11)
Whether you're using a personal or work‑organized device

In the meantime, here are some possible troubleshooting steps that you can consider:

1, Rebuild the required data components

Press Windows + R, type C:\Windows\Inf
Locate Mdac.inf right‑click it and select Install
If prompted for Windows files, browse to C:\Windows\I386 (or C:\I386 if available)
Restart the computer, then try opening Word again

2, Repair the Word installation

Once the data components are restored:

Open Control Panel > Programs > Programs and Features
Select Microsoft Office 2003
Choose Change > Repair
Complete the repair and restart the device

If the issue persists, please consider running Word in Compatibility Mode or with Administrator privileges to stabilize startup on newer versions of Windows.

Let me know if you need further assistance, feel free to ask me by clicking "Add Comment" or "Add Answer" if you cannot add comment so your response will be visible. Thanks for your effort.

Note: Please follow the steps in our documentation to enable e-mail notifications if you want to receive the related email notification for this thread.

Hendrix-V 13,360 Reputation points Microsoft External Staff Moderator

2026-03-10T23:25:48.0466667+00:00

Hi,

I just wanted to follow up and check if the information I provided was helpful. If you have any further questions or updates regarding this issue, please feel free to let me know in the Comments section. I'd be happy to assist you.
Dan Me 0 Reputation points

2026-03-11T01:19:45.83+00:00

Hi, thanks for the follow-up. Still no luck getting Word 2003 to run ... I couldn't get by the first step you show as there isn't Mdac.inf in the Inf folder. Any other suggestions?
Hendrix-V 13,360 Reputation points Microsoft External Staff Moderator

2026-03-11T03:02:02.5233333+00:00
Hi Dan Me,Thanks for the update.

If Mdac.inf is not present, it usually means your version of Windows no longer includes the legacy MDAC installer files that Word 2003 expects, since Office 2003 is not supported on Windows 11 (for your reference: Support has ended for Office 2003).

In that case, here are the next practical options that you can consider:

Option 1: Run Word 2003 in compatibility mode
This helps Windows load older components correctly.

Browse to WINWORD.EXE

Right‑click > Properties

Open the Compatibility tab

Enable Run this program in compatibility mode

Select Windows XP (Service Pack 2 or 3)

Also check Run this program as administrator

Apply and try launching Word

Option 2: Install using “Ignore”, then repair
If setup stops at Error 1919, select Ignore when the error appears
Let installation complete then:

Open Control Panel > Programs

Select Microsoft Office 2003

Choose Change > Repair

Restart and test Word

Option 3: Use a supported alternative to avoid repeated setup issues and improve reliability:

Open the documents using a newer supported version of Microsoft Word

Use a compatible document editor that supports .doc files

You’ve already taken the right troubleshooting steps, and the behavior you’re seeing is consistent with how older applications interact with newer Windows environments.

If you have any further questions or updates regarding this issue, please feel free to let me know in the Comments section.
Dan Me 0 Reputation points

2026-03-11T05:29:44.4966667+00:00

Hi Hendrix-V ... your help is appreciated. I had already tried opening with Compatibility (each and every one 😜) with no success. Uninstalled and reinstalled (from original disc) to no avail. Also ran repair and get the 1919 error during that process (clicking Ignore ...twice...) and get the finished box. Trying Libre Office at the moment, but even as old as it is I still much prefer Word. What's most annoying is, it had been running just fine all these years util about a month or so ago, and I can only assume MS in all their ultimate wisdom Updated it away.

Again, much thanks for all your time and efforts! ... Daniel
Hendrix-V 13,360 Reputation points Microsoft External Staff Moderator

2026-03-12T05:50:54.6533333+00:00
Hi Dan Me,

Thank you for your continued patience, and we appreciate you sharing the additional context.

Given the challenges you’ve encountered with Word 2003, Word for the web can be used as a practical workaround. Because it runs entirely in a web browser, it does not rely on the legacy system components that older desktop versions of Word require.

Go to Word for the web

Sign in with a Microsoft account

Upload your existing Word documents (.doc or .docx)

Open and edit them directly in the browser

(Optional) Save a copy as .docx for improved compatibility going forward Please note that some advanced or legacy features available in Word 2003 may not be present in the web version, but for general editing and document access, it provides a stable and accessible experience.

If you have any further questions or updates regarding this issue, please feel free to let me know in the Comments section.

Answer 2

The error indicates missing or damaged ODBC registry entries that Office setup expects when installing Word 2003. Use the documented resolution steps for “Error 1919” during Office setup:

When prompted for Windows installation files during repair or setup, insert the Windows CD (for the same version of Windows that is installed).
In the dialog that asks for the source, select the I386 folder on the hard disk (typically C:\I386) and then select **OK`.
- If the Windows CD is not available, select Browse and point to the I386 folder on the system.
- If I386 is a subfolder of the Windows folder and cannot be selected directly, type the full path in the Copy files from box (for example, C:\Windows\I386 or C:\Winnt\I386) and then select **OK`.
After the files are copied, restart the computer and then start Word 2003 again.

If the problem persists because the ODBC registry keys are missing or corrupted, import the ODBC registry keys from another computer that:

Runs the same version of Windows, and
Does not show the error.

On the source computer:

Select Start > Run, type regedit, and select OK.
Locate and select the key: HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\ODBC
On the File menu, select Export.
Choose a temporary location, enter a file name, and select Save to create a .reg file.

Copy that .reg file to the problem computer, then:

Run regedit.
On the File menu, select Import.
Browse to the copied .reg file, select it, and complete the import.
Restart the computer and then reinstall or repair Office/Word 2003.

These steps restore the ODBC registry configuration that Office setup requires, which resolves “Error 1919” and allows Word 2003 to install and run correctly.

References:

"Error 1919. Error configuring ODBC data source" when you run the Setup program for Office

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Microsoft Word 2003 crashes when opened. HELP please

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