How To Cure Runtime Error 438

Error 438 can occur in multiple instances: When running Microsoft Excel 2000 and running a Visual Basic for Applications macro; when the user starts Microsoft Word 2002 for the first time after upgrading from Office 2000 and on some Windows 95 computers when certain parameters are true. It will occur in Word 2002 if the Microsoft Works 2001 add in is not properly configured for the new Word. To solve this error, follow the steps below.

What Causes Runtime Error 438?

If you have encountered Runtime Error 438, it may have shown as:

Run-time error ‘438’:

Object doesn’t support this property or method

This can occur in two instances. Firstly, if the user has recently upgraded from Office 2000 to Word 2002 and attempts to use Word for the first time, a Microsoft Works plugin that was originally configured for use in Office 2000 will not now work in Word 2002. As the error message reads, the object (in this case the Microsoft Works plugin in) does not support the method (use of Word 2002). Also, another instance that this error may appear is when, in Excel 2000, the user attempts to run a Microsoft Visual Basic for Applications macro. This macro will attempt to set the properties of the worksheet but cannot complete the task, causing it to end in a runtime error, in this case error 438. To solve this problem, follow these steps.

How To Fix Runtime Error 438

Step 1 – Uninstall Microsoft Works Add-in

Since this Microsoft works add in can be the problem, uninstalling it will be a logical option. To uninstall this add in, follow these steps:

1. Click Start > Settings > Control Panel
2. Open Add / Remove Programs
3. Click File Location in the Options box
4. On the Uninstall/Install tab, select the Word in Works suite Add-in and click Add / Remove
5. Follow the on screen instructions
6. Restart your PC and attempt to load Microsoft Word again

This should have stopped the error from occurring as the add-in that was causing the problems, the Works for Word add in, has now been removed freeing Microsoft Word to load up without having to attempt to satisfy the conditions of the add in. If this method did not succeed then proceed to the next step.

Step 2 – Use Microsoft Fix-It #50356

You can download the Microsoft Fix-It Patch here.

After download, the wizard will guide you through what needs to be done. This hotfix repairs the broken registry strings that may be causing this problem. It provides new keys to known keys that may be broken. When Windows was looking for these registry keys, it would not find what it was programmed to find and so display an error message. However, with this hotfix, it fixes these registry keys that are known to falter and so when Windows searches for the registry key, it finds the correct one that it was programmed to find. If this step did not fix your PC, carry on to the next one.

Step 3 – Scan For Viruses

– Download this virus scanner

Viruses are a big problem for Windows, as they continually cause a variety of problems for your PC. One of the biggest causes of the Runtime 438 error is the way in which many viruses tend to infect the core program files that Windows & your software requires to run. This causes the files to become unreadable, leading Windows to be unable to process the commands you need, leading to it showing the error. To ensure this is not a problem, you need to be able to clean out all the virus infections that your system might have with a virus scanner. Our recommended virus scanner is a program called XoftSpy

Step 4 – Clean Out The Registry

– Download this registry cleaner

Registry cleaners can play a very important role in how well Windows operates, and can help stop the Runtime 428 error. The registry is basically a central database which stores vital settings and information for your system, allowing Windows to remember a huge number of details for your PC. Unfortunately, the registry is also prone to becoming corrupt, leaving your system running extremely slowly and unreliably. To fix this problem, you should use a ‘registry cleaner’ to scan through your registry and repair any of the damaged parts of it that are causing your computer to run extremely slowly or with errors. You can download our recommended