From: goudswaa@fraser.sfu.ca (Peter Goudswaard)
Subject: lockup in Word 5.0/5.5
Summary: lockup in Word 5.0/5.5
Keywords: word 5.0 5.5
Organization: Simon Fraser University, Burnaby, B.C., Canada
Date: Mon, 14 Sep 1992 20:44:37 GMT

Microsoft could not help me with this one.  I'd appreciate *any* info
on possible solutions.

Jan 1992
--------
running Word 5.5 on an IBM model 50Z with DOS 3.3, no network card, only
MS Mouse driver (current at the time).  The machine would lock up randomly.
The secretary would be typing, or doing any operation in Word and suddenly
the keyboard would not respond.  I removed the config.sys and autoexec.bat
and ran the machine bare.  Word 5.5 would still lock up once or twice a
day.

Mar 1992
--------
swapped the 50Z for a Model 35 running DOS 5.0, no network cards or
unusual drivers.  New MS Mouse driver.  Machine locked up almost
daily.  I installed an entirely new Word 5.5 out of the box.  Problem
remained.  Only happened in Word 5.5.  Same thing with bare bootup.

Apr 1992
--------
Progress!  secretary said cursor disappeared in the "File Open" screen
and the message "CLOSES ALL WINDOWS ON ACTIVE DOCUMENT" appears at
bottom.  According to Microsoft, the message is only supposed to be
linked with the "File Close" menu.  I also changed the cursor speed
in the reference disk from [FAST] to [NORMAL], and set the Word 5.5
cursor speed to slowest.  No effect.  Also no effect if no config.sys
or autoexec.  In case you're wondering, normal setup has plenty of
files= and buffers=.  We have the identical setup on at least 20 other
machines.

Called MS rep (Paul), who offered the following:
 - MW.INI might be corrupted.  Delete it and Word will create a new one.
 - SCREEN.VID might be corrupted.  Replace with new one.
 - make sure that there is no macro that uses the ALT-File Open key
   sequence.
 - start Word using WORD /X to disable the use of XMS.
I implemented all of the above, then waited.

Apr 24/92: Locked up in Print Preview as she hit ^F9 to print the file.
May 4/92: doing an ALT-FO, the title of the file appeared on the
          titlebar, then the computer froze.
May 11 & 12/92: locked up on ALT-File Open.
May 18/92: locked up on Alt-Window.
May 21 & 27/92: locked up on ALT-File Open.
May 28/92: locked up in middle of a save, and lost the document.
May 28/92: locked up after ALT-File eXit.

[The secretary didn't work during the summer.]

Sept. 10/92: the last thing I did was swap her LaserJet III with another
secretary's, becuase there were random ASCII chars appearing on some
pages (I need a fix for this, too!)

That's the story to date.  2 lengthy calls to Microsoft produced nothing,
swapping the computer, software, OS, mouse driver (and removing it), and
with or without an IBM Token Ring/4 card and drivers -- nothing has
worked.  I am starting to believe that she produces an extraordinary
amount of static electricity and zaps the damn thing!

Any suggestions????????

-- 
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P*.*                              |         |      __/^\__      |         |
                                  |         |      \     /      |         |
         Peter Goudswaard         |         |   _/\_\   /_/\_   |         |
         goudswaa@sfu.ca          |         |   >           <   |         |
         pgoudswa@cue.bc.ca       |         |    >_________<    |         |
                                  |_________|         |         |_________|

         Or if you feel really lucky:  peterg@quesnel.education.gov.bc.ca
Newsgroups: comp.os.msdos.apps