OFF: Cannot Start Office Programs If Available Disk Space Is Low (135887)


The information in this article applies to:

  • Microsoft Office 97 for Windows
  • Microsoft Access 97
  • Microsoft Excel 97 for Windows
  • Microsoft Outlook 97
  • Microsoft PowerPoint 97 for Windows
  • Microsoft Word 97 for Windows
  • Microsoft Office for Windows 95
  • Microsoft Office for Windows 95 7.0a
  • Microsoft Access for Windows 95 7.0
  • Microsoft Excel for Windows 95
  • Microsoft Excel for Windows 95 7.0a
  • Microsoft PowerPoint for Windows 95
  • Microsoft Word for Windows 95
  • Microsoft Word for Windows 95 7.0a
This article was previously published under Q135887

SYMPTOMS

When you attempt to start any of the programs listed at the beginning of this article, and your computer has less than 4 megabytes (MB) of free random access memory (RAM), you may receive various error messages that indicate that there is not enough memory to start the program.

For example, you may receive the following messages:
- Out of Memory.
- Microsoft Excel indicates that it is unable to load RPCRT4.DLL or XLINTL32.DLL due to low memory.
- Microsoft Word and Microsoft PowerPoint both indicate that they are unable to load MSO95.DLL due to low memory.
- Microsoft Word indicates that there is not enough memory to load WWINTL32.DLL.
- There is not enough free memory to run this program. Quit one or more programs, and then try again.
- This program has performed an illegal operation and will be shutdown. If the problem persists, contact the program vendor.
- %1 caused a stack fault in module %2 at %3
- Program name caused a stack fault in module Program name at 0137:address
- The system is dangerously low in resources! Would you like to terminate the following application? Program name

For additional information about this error message in Microsoft Word, click the article number below to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

307814 WD: Error Message: System Is Dangerously Low on Resources

- An error occurred creating a file dialog. Please save presentations, exit, and then restart PowerPoint.
- Unable to load "riched30.dll". You may be out of memory, out of system resources, or missing a .dll file.
- The MAPI Spooler could not be started. close and then restart all mail-enabled applications.
- Unable to open the Outlook window.
The following problems may also occur:
  • The screen is not redrawn properly, or toolbar buttons disappear.

  • The program status bar or the mouse pointer flashes or flickers.

CAUSE

These problems occur when Microsoft Windows is configured to manage virtual memory, which is the default setting. When you attempt to start one of the Office programs, Windows attempts to load the program into RAM. If there is not enough RAM available, Windows attempts to make RAM available by moving code from RAM to the hard disk (virtual memory). In low disk space situations, Windows may not be able to claim enough hard disk space for this operation to be successful. In this case, you may receive the error messages described in this article.

WORKAROUND

To work around this problem, do any of the following:
  • Add more RAM to the computer.
  • Acquire more hard disk space (either by adding a larger disk drive or by using a disk compression utility).
  • As a short-term solution, make more RAM available by shutting down unneeded programs, or make more disk space available by deleting unneeded files.NOTE: The hard disk that needs to have the free space is the one that Microsoft Windows is using for virtual memory. Microsoft Windows or Microsoft Office may not be installed on this hard disk.

MORE INFORMATION

To view virtual memory settings, right-click My Computer, click Properties, and then click the Performance tab. In the System Properties dialog box, click the Virtual Memory button in Advanced settings.

To view available free disk space, on your desktop double-click My Computer icon. In the list of available drives, right-click the drive, and then click Properties on the shortcut menu.
Modification Type:MinorLast Reviewed:8/17/2005
Keywords:kbenv kberrmsg kbprb KB135887
©2004 Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved.