Need to change normal.dot template in Word 2003

[73MGBGT]

I want to change Normal.dot template margins, font and screen size (115%) to
have that appear every time I bring up Word.

Have tried to follow directions given:
"On File menu, click Open, navigate to C:\Documents and Settings\user
name\Application Data\Microsoft\Templates".

Also tried the following instructions that didn't work either:

"The normal.dot file is saved every time you exit Word. Make
all your changes on an empty document. For the font you
need to select Format, Font from the menu. Select the font
and size you want as the default and then select Default
(lower left of the window) and answer the "are you sure
question." Margins are set the same way as fonts. Click
File, Page Setup, Margins tab. Set the margins you want and
then click Default as in the Font setting. Set all the other
items you need set (remember that if you open a file that
has a different screen size setting Word will display at
that setting.) To ensure that your settings take, save the
blank file as test.doc to either the desktop or a folder.
"You don't have to do this but I have seen the default
setting fail. Once saved exit Word. Delete the file
created.
Start Word and your new settings should be in effect."

I have tried everything. The only thing under Templates are two Word
documents: "winword" and "winword2". I tried changing these, but nothing
worked. I also tried rebooting to no avail. Is there anything else I can
do? This is very frustrating!!!

 

[Tim Feld]

Another thing to try is locate the "normal.dot" file, open it, make your
adjustments, and save it. You have to pay attention when you save the file to
make sure you are saving it in the same location and you are saving it as a
template file (i.e. a ".dot" extension). It's a little tricky because you
need to make sure you are opening the correct file (i.e. the one Word uses
when you are logged in...there is a "universal" copy that Word uses for newly
created accounts). A good way to tell is by the file date. Yours will likely
have a newer date than the "universal" one (but only if changes have been
made to it so it's not fool-proof). It will be located in the path you listed
in your second paragraph. If you don't see that file, make sure Windows
Explorer is configured to view all files (hidden and system files). It would
be wise to copy the normal.dot file somewhere safe before making changes to
it in case something goes wrong.

That's pretty odd to see "winword" and "winword2" under Templates. Unless
someone created an actual template called winword and winword 2, you may have
the default Template folder pointing to the wrong place (like the Program
Files - Office folder). "Winword" is the name of Word's main executable file
(i.e. the program that is run when you click on the Word icon). You can view
where the default Template folder is by clicking on Tools-Options (from
within Word) and clicking on the "File Locations" tab. There you can see and
modify various folder locations including Templates.

Good luck.

Tim