Opening a document leaves empty startup document open as well

[Bas]

When I start Word or Excel, it has an empty startup doucment open (as it
should), called "Document1" or "Book1". But when I then click "Open" and open
an existing document, I want the empty document to close automatically. The
thing I open should replace the startup document. Same story when I click
"New..." and start a document from a template.

On one of my computers this works correctly, but on another one the empty
"Document 1" or "Book1" stays open as well. How can I set this option right?

 

[Herb Tyson [MVP]]

I find that Word keeps the "empty" document only when it thinks it's not
empty.

I can't suggest anything for Excel, but for Word on the problem computer,
what happens if you start Word using the /a switch? Does it work properly
now? If so, then, I would try renaming normal.dot (or normal.dotm if it's
Word 2007) to see if this "cures" the problem.

 

[Bas]

Starting with the /a switch (I assume this is done by typing "winword /a" in
the Run box) doesn't help.

Any other way to make Office realize the document is empty?