Windows Vista no Zotero tab and Word 2007 crashes

LindaB
I've spent hours searching the forum and tried a number of fixes, but nothing seems to help:

I'm using a Sony Vaio laptop running, for my sins, Windows Vista
Word 2007 with SP2
Firefox 3.6
Zotero 2.0.2
WinWord Integration add-on 3.0a.3

After loading the WinWord add-on, I can't find the Zotero tab. I think I'm looking in the right place - along the top Word tab area, which has "Home" then "Insert" ....etc.

The last tab is one for EndNote X3. Is there possibly a conflict between EndNote and Zotero?

I've check the stipulated location for templates, and the Zotero .dot file is there. I also copied it into the location where other templates (including a link to the EndNote ones) are found, but that didn't make any difference.

Most worrying of all - since trying to load this add-on, Word now constantly 'crashes' in that it is impossible to close it down normally. I get the error message: "EndNote X3: An unknown error occurred" and then Word stops responding.

I have Zotero and add-ons working perfectly on my Mac desktop, and would really like to get it functioning on the laptop.
  • irischyi
    I had exactly the same problem (with exactly same settings as yours) yesterday.

    I uninstalled Endnotes and it didn't work. I then uninstalled and reinstalled Office and it didn't work. I ended up doing "system restore" (so I had Endnotes back) and then downgraded to Firefox 3.5.8 and reinstalled Zotero 2.0.2 and WinWord Integration add-on 3.0a.3. It worked.

    But today, something else went wrong -- when I opened the Word document I was working on yesterday on another computer, the entire computer crashed (this time with the blue screen). But all other Word files worked fine. This is so weird.
  • dstillman
    A blue screen of death indicates problems unrelated to Zotero (and significantly more serious ones).
    Word now constantly 'crashes' in that it is impossible to close it down normally. I get the error message: "EndNote X3: An unknown error occurred" and then Word stops responding.
    That doesn't sound like a Zotero problem. You can always remove .dot files from your Word startup directory or disable them in Tools->Templates and Add-ins to see if a particular template is causing a problem.
  • LindaB
    Dan

    I know coincidences can occur, but I'd been happily using Word on this platform for three years without this problem ever occurring. It only happened after I installed the Word Add-on for Zotero. That is why I thought there might be a conflict with EndNote - not so off-the-planet to my non-technical mind as they are both referencing software.

    I've now uninstalled EndNote, and the EndNote X3 error no longer appears, but Word still won't close down normally. I can force it to close by clicking on 'Cancel' each time it tells me that Word is not responding and wants to restart it, and I don't lose any work so long as I remember to save it before closing.

    But I would really like to get Zotero working on the laptop as I'm impressed by its functionality when I use it on my Mac desktop, so I'd like to persevere, but don't know what to try next. I switch between the Mac and the laptop quite a bit, so would like Zotero functioning on both of them.

    I reinstalled the Word add-on, as a number of posts seem to advise, but I still can't see it on the menu bar at the top of Word, which I understand is where it should appear.

    Any help would be much appreciated.
  • dstillman
    What I'm saying is that there's no need to speculate about the cause—if you disable/uninstall a template (Zotero or something else) from Templates and Add-ins (and/or remove the .dot from the startup directory listed in that window) and the problem goes away, and then you re-enable it and the problem comes back, there's a decent chance you've found the cause. If the problem doesn't go away after you've removed something, the problem likely lies elsewhere.
  • LindaB
    Success at last! I uninstalled Zotero, rebooted my machine, and at last Word started functioning correctly. I then crossed my fingers and reinstalled Zotero and the Word plugin. Word still continued to function correctly, but I couldn't see the Zotero toolbar so I followed the instructions and did a reinstall from the Tools tab on Firefox. All now seems to be working correctly. I have no idea what this all means for detecting the culprit, but I'm happy that I can now access Zotero from my Mac and my laptop.
  • rzozimo
    Dear all,

    I am having the exact same problem

    I have Vista, Word 2007 Enterprise with Endnote X2 and the system was working without a problem.

    Installed Zoztero (which was just what I was looking for) and suddenly word starts crashing every time. I uninstalled end note but no joys. Installed word 2007 enterprise twice already and still it crashes.

    So my system has now

    Lenovo Ideapad U350
    Windows Vista SP 2
    Word 2007 Enterprise
    Mozzila 3.5.10

    I have completely removed Endnote X2 from my machine using CCleaner

    Zotero Plug inns installed.

    Do you have any suggestions (my word 2007 just crashed again!). I have tried to run word without add ins. It runs smoothly but doesn't close properly - only happened after installing Zotero!

    Thank you. As many in this forum i don't want to get back to End Note!

    Ricardo Zozimo
    Lancaster University


    ANy ideas of how to
  • Georgy
    FAO Dan
    Like many before me (above) I have today lost my tool bar in word 2007 to the Endnote X2 library ( installed 2007 tabs about a year ago . Given I have to access it I copied faithfully the instructions involving using the add or remove function to repair the Endnote installation on the XP platform I still use. Nothing changed ie no tab in Word despite rebooting so I used the cmd option and re-configured the Endnote programme that way via a .dll suffix. Still no joy and the only thing I can think of is some downloads of Adobe updates although I cannot see why. The more likely option is word has been corrupted as I was frequently asked to save the cwyw dot template and never knew what to do. I came across this site in searching for an answer and have now registered (:) )
    Could you or someone give me some direction about how to rescue this as this Endnote library is my research related to study /some paper and goes back many years
    many thanks
  • fbennett
    edited October 9, 2010
    If a Zotero install does not seem to be a cause of the fault on the offending computer (I take it that you haven't installed the program), there's little chance of getting targeted advice in this forum. Try contacting EndNote support. It looks like they have a user forum over there, as well as email help services.
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