Can't get rid of text boundaries (Word 2002)

[Jay Stranahan]

Today I tried to open MS Word and got an 'MS Installer' message (???).
It searched for a bit and told me to insert the proper CD. Rebooted,
tried again, same problem. By clicking Cancel repeatedly I managed to
enter the application, but found an annoying L-shaped thingamagig at
each corner of the page. (I work exclusively in Print Layout mode; they
do not appear in Normal or Web Layout). They move when I adjust the
margins in Page Setup. I tried selecting and unselecting Text
Boundaries on the Options menu. It made the text borders appear and
disappear, but not the L-shaped thingies.

I backed up my documents, uninstalled Word, then reinstalled it. It no
longer asks for the install CD, but those stupid damn L-shaped thingies
at each corner of the text boundary remain. I've tried everything I can
think of, I've googled the problem. I can't get rid of them. Also, I
noticed that my list recently opened documents remained even after a
full reinstall.

As far as I can figure at this point:

(a) My copy of MS Word got damaged somehow.
(b) There are components of MS Word that the uninstall does not remove.
(c) The L-shapes marking the corners of my text boundaries are some sort
of visual artifact from the uninstalled components of my damaged copy of
Word.

Can anyone help, either to diagnose my problem or tell me how to do a
*clean* reinstall of Word?

 

[garfield-n-odie]

The L-shaped thingies are usually the result of installing East Asian
language support in Windows. To uninstall: from Windows XP, click on
Start | Control Panel | Regional and Language Options | Languages |
uncheck "Install files for East Asian languages".

 

[Jay Stranahan]

The L-shaped thingies are usually the result of installing East Asian

language support in Windows. To uninstall: from Windows XP, click on
Start | Control Panel | Regional and Language Options | Languages |
uncheck "Install files for East Asian languages".

Thanks, I tried that (yes, the box *was* checked and I went "Aha!") and
rebooted.... but they're still there. And it's still irritating.

Anyone know how to do a clean reinstall of Word 2002...?

 

[garfield-n-odie]

Hi Jay. One more place to look... from Windows XP, click on Start | All
Programs | Microsoft Office Tools | Microsoft Office XP Language
Settings | Enabled Languages tab | select and delete any East Asian
languages listed in the "Enabled languages" pane. If you're using an
older version of Windows, the menu choices are a little different, but
same general idea. Then repeat the original fix I suggested. Reboot to
effect the changes. Does this fix the problem?