Resolving "Compile error in hidden module: Autoexec", When You Try To Start Microsoft Word

SYMPTOMS

When you try to start Word, you may receive the following error message:

Compile error in hidden module: Autoexec

CAUSE

This problem may occur if a third-party add-in program that is stored in the Startup folder for Office conflicts with Word.

WORKAROUND

To work around this problem, determine which add-in program conflicts with Word by moving the add-in files and folders out of the Startup folder one-by-one. To do so, follow these steps.

NOTE: Because there are several versions of Microsoft Windows, the following steps may be different on your computer. If they are, see your product documentation to complete these steps.

1. Quit Word.
2. Locate and then click the following folder, where drive is the drive on which Windows is installed:

drive:\Program Files\Microsoft Office\Office\Startup

NOTE: This is the default location for the Office\Startup folder. If you installed Word to a different location, the path to this folder on your computer may be different.

3. Right-click one of the third-party add-in files or folders, and then click Cut.
4. Click Start, right-click My Documents, and then click Paste.
5. Try to start Word.
   
   If Word does not start successfully, repeat steps 3 through 5 for each third-party add-in file and folder in the Office\Startup folder.
6. After you determine which third-party add-in program or folder is causing the problem, move the other third-party add-in files and folders back to the Office\Startup folder.