Solved Opening Word 2007: ... problem sending the command to the program

[srhamm]

When I boot up my computer, then open Word 2007, it halts at the splash screen. Eventually, it may say "There was a problem sending the command to the program."
As a frequent work around, I have launched the Services window, stopped and restarted the Printer Spooler, and suddenly Word opens.
Other times, Word opens, but when trying to print, it doesn't work. I do the Printer Spooler thing again, and then printing works fine.
There has to be a better fix than this work around. Can you help?
Thanks.

 

[Trucidation]

While waiting for the gurus to arrive, maybe we can try some easy stuff.

Assuming the print spooler is the culprit (since it appears to be affecting printing), if it is an option have you tried removing all your printers, rebooting, and then reinstalling them? You may want to keep the printer driver installers and printer settings copied safely elsewhere first.

 

[Irene]

Do you have any add-ins? If so, try disabling them and see if that makes a difference. If it does, re-enable them one at a time to find the culprit:
Enable or disable add-ins in Office programs - Support - Office.com

 

[srhamm]

Do you have any add-ins? If so, try disabling them and see if that makes a difference. If it does, re-enable them one at a time to find the culprit:
Enable or disable add-ins in Office programs - Support - Office.com

I disabled the few add-ins I had that were active (many are listed that are disabled but not deleted). PERHAPS there was a slight improvement: Word seems to get past the splash screen now but still pops up the error message. I don't have to stop and restart the print spooler now, just try a second time to open a Word document and it succeeds.

But here's a kicker: this doesn't happen at the office, only at home or at school. Maybe from what Trucidation says, maybe one/some of my home or school printers are the culprit. Hmmm, I don't relish the idea of unstalling a bunch of printers. There are many! But I may give that a try next. What do you think of the clue that this doesn't happen at work?

Thanks

 

[Irene]

Something else you might try:
Word 2007 - ERROR: "There was a problem sending the command to the program" | Windows Secrets Lounge

You might want to "re-register" Word's file extensions, which simply involves using the /r startup switch. This article provides more than anyone really needs to know:
How to use startup command line switches to start Word 2010, Word 2007, Word 2003, Word 2002, and Word 2000.

In brief:
Close Word
Start > Run > type "winword.exe /r" without the " " (then press ENTER)

Please note: there is a space before the /r

 

[srhamm]

Last night I upgraded from Office 2007 Pro to Office 2010 (Academic) Pro. So far, I haven't experienced the original error. I did, however, take Irene's suggestion to re-register file extensions. Word (or Office) went through its paces, and then finished doing whatever it was doing. Opening Word seems to be behaving for now.
Thanks, all.

 

[etfloor]

Thanks for the print spooler idea. I was finally able to open Word after restarting the print spooler. Who would have thought! So, after other fixes failed, I uninstalled my printer, but that was a big deal. I had to stop the print spooler to let the uninstall complete. I only had one printer installed which was an HP officeJet 6500 wireless that I have had multi-problems of stopping to work. I then downloaded their uninstall cleanup program and ran it until it wouldn't clean anything up. Word opens and so does "Devices and Printers" in "Control Panel". All this happened a few months ago and I formatted my hard disk and did a clean install with everything only to have it happen again. I think it all stems back to the printer but the same set up on another computer with same OS, both HP's both Win 7 64 and virtually all the same software, works fine. The difference it the problem is with a laptop with wireless printer, the non problem is on a desktop with a usb connection to the printer. Other Vista computers with same Office software work fine with wireless printer. What a mess. I hope this ends it. Now, do I install the printer again? Do I use only with usb connection?