windows

Symptoms

These error messages are displayed when selecting a Word (.docx), PowerPoint (.pptx) or Excel (.xlsx) file in the Windows Explorer preview pane:

• There’s not enough memory or system resources to start PowerPoint
• There’s not enough memory or system resources to start Word
• Excel displays an error message with a red cross icon ❌ and no text

Solution

This happens when the 32-bit version of Microsoft Office is installed after having uninstalled the 64-bit version. This leaves references in the registry to the 64-bit Preview Handlers.

To fix these errors and repair the preview pane, run Regedit as administrator and delete these registry keys:

Microsoft Excel previewer

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Classes\CLSID{00020827-0000-0000-C000-000000000046}

Microsoft PowerPoint previewer

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Classes\CLSID{65235197-874B-4A07-BDC5-E65EA825B718}

Microsoft Word previewer

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Classes\CLSID{84F66100-FF7C-4fb4-B0C0-02CD7FB668FE}

Microsoft Visio previewer

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Classes\CLSID{21E17C2F-AD3A-4b89-841F-09CFE02D16B7}

Important

A logoff/logon or reboot is required.