Locate and open your Normal.dot file as described in Method 1 in http://word.mvps.org/FAQs/AppErrors/BlankDocNotBlank.htm . Click
on Format | Columns | One | Apply to: Whole document | OK. Even
if "One" already appears to be selected, click on it anyway.
Type a character or two and delete what you just typed. Save the
Normal.dot file and close it.