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Macros, tips, and templates for Corel® WordPerfect® for Windows®
© Copyright 1996-2024 by Barry MacDonnell. All Rights Reserved.

Problems with WordPerfect program files?

Notes The information on this page assumes you are using a legitimate retail (Corel boxed or Corel download) version of WordPerfect from Corel or other qualified vendor (e.g., directly shipped from Amazon.com and not from a third party), or a version that came pre-installed on your computer, and not a version you might have bought from a relatively unknown deep-discount site. The latter products often turn out to be problematic OEM versions that were installed on, and tailored to, specific computer brands and their hardware components. Similarly, some online sellers still offer greatly outdated versions that might not work well (or at all) on newer Windows systems. Caveat emptor. Trial version "problems"? Sometimes WordPerfect fails to start because it is a downloaded trial version and the time limit has simply expired. (Failure to start can also happen with fully functional versions, for reasons discussed in Repairing WordPerfect documents and templates.) Using a serial number from another version — e.g., an OEM version purchased from some discount sites — does not activate a trial version. This is not a problem with WordPerfect program files, it is a problem with the serial number. Some downloaded trial versions from Corel (versions prior to WordPerfect X6) or some pre-installed OEM versions bundled with your computer, might not have all the features that full retail versions contain. Hence your "problem" might be due to the unexpected absence of a feature or function that you believe should exist. 1. The main WordPerfect program ■  Option A - Apply all Service Packs Some problems, "bugs," or minor annoyances are usually fixed by Corel and included in a Service Pack (an "SP" or "patch") for specific versions of the program. Note: Recent versions of WordPerfect (e.g., X8 through 2020) have not been issued Service Packs, but this could change for a future version. Some people prefer to download and save the patches so they can install them at a later time. Such updating of WordPerfect is an often neglected procedure (even though it generally is easy to do) on the theory that "if it ain't broke don't fix it." This is your choice, of course, but except for some very early versions of WordPerfect this author has not seen a problem with Service Packs, and when one surfaced it was fixed almost immediately. Getting a Service Pack update: •  Your version might have an option to check for updates on the Help menu.     - or - •  See the Corel WordPerfect site under the Support (tab) choice to download Patches & Updates for Service Packs. Tip: See also "Updating, upgrading, or reinstalling WordPerfect" here for related topics. ■  Option B - Repair or reinstall the program Please note that the accuracy of this information cannot be guaranteed. Microsoft or Corel can change the program or its repair methods at any time, so you might want to seek additional advice. (A good place to start is by joining WordPerfect Universe.) The methods below are merely based on the author's experience. In any case, always make a backup of important programs and user files first. Tips on REPAIRING the WordPerfect program ☼  Like a program uninstall/reinstall, a WordPerfect program repair does NOT fix, remove, or replace any WordPerfect USER files (i.e., your WordPerfect documents (which includes macros and merge files), a modified default template, user-created ("custom") templates, etc.) that might be damaged. For those items — which are more likely to be the cause of problems — see Repairing WordPerfect documents and templates. ☼  It is generally recommended that you try a program repair before a program reinstallation. [To uninstall (remove) and reinstall Wordperfect see the next section.] ☼  As an alternative to the following methods to initiate a program repair, advanced users of recent WordPerfect versions can use the WordPerfect Office Setup executable file to repair the program. See Footnote 2 below. ☼  Other options: If a repair does not seem to solve your problem see Option C and Option D below. ■  WordPerfect 10 (c.2001) and later versions (see below for earlier WordPerfect versions) •  In modern versions of Windows (such as Windows 7/8/10/11), or where you don't have the original WordPerfect installation disk handy (if you have it see below), use the built-in legacy (aka "classic") Windows Control Panel module to conduct a Repair of the WordPerfect program. Here's how. First, close WordPerfect and any other open applications (you will need to restart the computer after the Repair is complete, so you won't waant to lose unsaved work). Then, choose one of these two options: Option A. If you are familiar with the Windows Control Panel you can go directly to Step 3 below to Repair the program.    - Or - Option B. If you are not familiar with the Windows Control Panel, or you use Windows 10 or later Windows version, continue reading the following paragraphs for more details. [For some earlier versions of Windows (e.g., Windows 8, Vista, Windows XP) see the method below.] ☼ Why use the Windows Control Panel? [Current as of Nov. 2024, Windows 10 version 22H2] Windows 10 has a Settings module that some users have tried — unsuccessfully — to repair WordPerfect. The (seemingly correct) method those users tried: 1. Clicked on the "gear" icon in the Tiles start menu — or clicked on All Settings in the Windows desktop's Notification area; then 2. clicked on "Apps" on the Settings screen — or used the Find a setting search field on the Windows Settings screen to search for "Apps & features"; then 3. clicked on the WordPerfect Office program to "repair" (i.e., presumably with a Repair option in the WordPerfect Office 2020 area on that Settings window). However, the last step above does not allow you to directly conduct a Repair! In fact, when clicking the WordPerfect Office choice on that (Windows) Apps & features screen the "Modify" option is grayed out (dimmed) and unavailable. Only the "Uninstall" choice is active. [Note: You can get to the Repair option via the "Uninstall" option (see the Corel support article here, but the Windows Control Panel method described next can be more intuitive and memorable, especially if you are somewhat familiar with the Control Panel). Further, in the above 3-step method a "Repair" choice is not even given — perhaps(?) due to the presence on your system of the (separate Corel) WordPerfect Setup.exe program module installed along with the main program, as briefly described below. Therefore,I recommend  you use the classic Windows Control Panel — not the newer Apps & features choice in Windows 10's (and possibly Windows 11's) Settings module. In turn, the Control Panel gives you access to WordPerfect's Setup program module — which does have a Repair option. Reminder: If you already know how to open the Windows Control Panel, you can open it now and then go directly to Step 3 below. Otherwise, continue reading. ☼ Open the Windows Control Panel by using any one of the following three methods.  Recommendation: Even though the methods are quick and easy, be sure to read through them before using your choice. Method A - An easy choice using the Windows Settings module (Step 1 below) = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = Step 1. Either •  click on the "gear" icon in the Windows (Tiles) Start menu or •  click on All Settings in the Windows desktop's Notification area located on the bottom right side of the Windows desktop. Step 2. Use the search field ("Find a setting") near the top of the Windows Settings screen to search for Control Panel. This opens the classic Control Panel window with the title "Adjust your computer's settings". Near the top of that window (right side), set the View by choice to "Category". —► Go directly to Step 3 below. Method B - Another easy choice by directly using the Windows Search shortcut key = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = Step 1. Simultaneously press the Windows logo key and the S key [+S] to open the Windows search feature, then search for Control Panel.  Step 2. In the search screen click on the "found" item — typically labeled "Control Panel - App" or "Control Panel - Desktop App". [Or you can just click on "Open" on the right side of the Best Match results screen.] This opens the classic Control Panel window with the title "Adjust your computer's settings". —► Go directly to Step 3 below. Method C - Recommended for Windows 8.1+ users who like using the Windows Run shortcut key [source: Corel here] = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = Step 1. Simultaneously press the Windows logo key and the R key [+R] to open the Run dialog. Step 2. In the Run dialog's Open field, type (without quotes) "appwiz.cpl" (or just "control panel" and click OK. This directly opens the Control Panel's Programs and Features window with the window subtitled "Uninstall or change a program". —► Skip Step 3 - Go directly to Step 4 below. Step 3. In the Control Panel window click on "Uninstall a program". (Don't worry, you won't need to uninstall it.) Step 4. You should now be in the Uninstall or change a program window. (On some systems it might take a few moments for the entire alphabetical list of your installed programs to appear.) ▸ Right-clcik on the WordPerfect Office program name you want to repair (e.g., WordPerfect Office 2020). Click Uninstall/Change on the pop up message that appears next to that name. A Windows dialog ("User Account Control") appears: "Do you want this app to make changes to your device? with Yes/No buttons asking you to confirm your choice. Note: Essentially, this dialog alerts you that you need Administrator rights on the computer to allow changes to a program. Hence, to repair your chosen WordPerfect program you need to click the Yes button to confirm your desire and continue with the "setup" in Step 5. Step 5. When you click the Yes button in Step 4 you should see the WordPerfect Office setup dialog appear [image showing WPO X9 verswion] (it might take a few moments to appear). Three radio buttons on that setup dialog will give you these options: ○  Modify (chosen by default, to change which features and languages that were installed) ○  Repair (<- This is the one you want to choose)[screen image] ○  Remove (WordPerfect Offcie) CAUTION: Under those 3 buttons is a checkbox, "Remove User Files". Generally most users will not check that box unless they really want to remove all their user files and personal settings — which includes the current (and possibly customized) default template file. (As noted on that linked page, whenever this template file cannot be found, WordPerfect will automatically generate a new factory-fresh version of it when the program is next launched. Hence, as noted it's a good idea to back it up before repairing the program so you can restore ("migrate") any customizations you made that were stored in that file as described on that linked page.) Step 6. ▸ Choose (i.e., enable) the Repair radio button — and then ▸ in some earlier WordPerfect versions (e.g., in WPOX9) there's a separate Repair button that appears at the bottom of that screen, click it to continue. If it's a Next button (e.g., in WPO2020/2021), click it. [Don't want to continue? Just click the "X" at the top of that screen to abort the Repair process and exit the setup module.] Notes: ¤ If you continue repairing you should see the Setup in Progress screen displayed as the program is being repaired. The repair should take only a few minutes. ¤ When the Repair process is complete click on "Finish" then - • DO NOT LAUNCH ANY of the WordPerfect Office programs. Instead: • Restart your computer for any changes (repairs/modifications) to take effect. • Then launch WordPerfect. •   Some other repair methods ■   In some earlier versions of Windows: - If available, you can use the Microsoft Installer (.msi) program — typically through the Windows Control Panel's Add or Remove Programs applet in Windows XP. - In Windows Vista/Windows7 you can use Start, Control Panel, Programs, Uninstall a program; choose the WordPerfect program and click Uninstall/Change; then choose Repair. You can also right-click the appropriate .MSI file and choosing Repair. ■   Alternatively: Insert your program's installation disk, and when the new installation screen appears you should be given three choices, variously named Typical installation, Repair, and Custom installation. Choose the Repair option. ■   Advanced users: In recent WordPerfect versions you can optionally (and directly) launch the WordPerfect Office Setup.exe file to repair the program; see Footnote 2 below. ■  Earlier versions of WordPerfect (7, 8, 9) (c. 1996-2000) For these earlier WordPerfect versions you can use PFREG, "...a Corel utility that can be used to unregister and register PerfectFit components in the Windows registry. Running it can solve a variety of problems and is a common troubleshooting recommendation." ■  Some tips about uninstalling (removing) and reinstalling WordPerfect — "the solution of last resort" •  Uninstalling WordPerfect does not automatically remove user files that you have modified. This includes the default template file, which includes keyboard shortcuts you have added (or deleted), custom toolbars and toolbar buttons, and custom menu choices. If that template file is corrupted, reinstalling the program in the same location as the uninstalled version will cause the reinstalled version to use the corrupted file! In other words, the program will still see that template file and not install a new version of it. Therefore you should relocate or rename the default template file before reinstalling the same program version in the same location. You can then use it to migrate many of your customizations to the new installation (see the same link). •  The pathways to the method to uninstall the program are the same as those to repair it. See above. •  Before beginning an uninstall operation: See the tips here about backing up your customizations so you can migrate them to the reinstalled program (either on the same computer or a different computer). •  If you wish to completely (manually) remove all traces of the program: Go to the Corel support website for WordPerfect at https://kb.corel.com and search the Knowledge Base there for "uninstall WordPerfect" or similar terms. For example, you should see articles such as WordPerfect Office 2020: Uninstall Procedure - [Automatic and (Manual, Advanced Process)], etc. The procedures there are more thorough than using the Windows Control Panel or Windows Settings to uninstall the program (but which in many cases is sufficient). ■  Option C  - Set a default printer If WordPerfect won't open or displays a document in a strange way, try this tip from Charles Rossiter (Corel C_Tech): "You need to have set up [in Windows] a default printer. Actually you can install any printer, even if you do not have the physical printer. Basically, the printer driver defines the interface between WPWin and the printer. With no printer installed, WPWin does not know how to format the document for printing, and so it also does not know how to display the document." ■  Option D - Restore factory defaults (and other methods) Here are some other methods to try. •  Restore factory defaults. This method is commonly recommended by Corel support — probably because it often fixes issues with the program. From Corel's article "How do I restore WordPerfect to its factory defaults": "... In some cases, Wordperfect's default installation may become corrupt or damaged preventing the application from launching, or working properly [or possibly to minimize, maximize, or close it]. This document will restore factory defaults by renaming Wordperfect's configuration files...."  [See Footnote 1 below for the full text (current as of April 2016).] This procedure simply renames the relevant Windows Registry key (in case it or any sub-key is corrupt), as well as the Windows profile (Corel) subfolder. Both things are easy to do, and renaming these items means they can easily be restored if desired. When you have done these things, WordPerfect will create factory fresh versions of them when next it loads. Hence, this is a "fix" for corrupt program "environment" and user configuration ("profile") settings. Note that several other important files can be automatically recreated (thus, restored to factory their defaults) if you manually rename or delete them in separate operations, such as the default template or QuickWords template. (Renaming is the preferred option.) But this is often done as a remedy for a corrupt WordPerfect default template or QuickWords template, which is not the same as fixing a corrupt Windows profile — which is a database of user folders, files, and some other user settings. It cannot be emphasized too strongly that you should rename the items described in the above Corel article, since deleting the profile will delete any customized user files in it — such as the default template, which contains toolbars, keyboard definitions, menus, etc. By renaming these items you can often restore customizations from the renamed items. This is discussed here. At a later time you can remove the old renamed items if you wish. •  You could try creating a new Windows User Account, which creates a new User Profile, which is basically a section of the Windows registry on your computer — a database of user-specific settings — along with a set of folders that are stored in a per-user directory on your disk. You can then log in as that new user to see if the problem goes away. See here for more. •  You could try starting Windows in Safe Mode. This is a mode in which Windows loads only the bare minimum services and applications to start up. This will ensure that no other application or service is running (i.e., resident in RAM memory) that may be interfering with WordPerfect. (If the problem disappears you will need to track down the program that is interfering with WordPerfect.) [UPDATE: An article was posted in June 2022 on the Corel Knowledgebase, "WordPerfect: How to perform an installation in Safe Mode" at https://kb.corel.com/en/128602.] 2. QuickCorrect feature See the QuickCorrect FAQ on the WordPerfect Universe FAQ Forum. The FAQ also explains how to backup, transfer (to another system or newer version of WordPerfect), and print this useful file. 3. QuickWords feature While QuickCorrect entries are stored in a special program file (the user word list, a .uwl file), QuickWords are stored in their own template file (.wpt). The template is located in the same folder as the WordPerfect default template, as shown in Tools, Settings, Files, Template. To manage (backup, migrate, salvage/repair, etc.) your QuickWords, see here. Page Top