Who's changing my normal template?

[Jeff Turner]

I have set my options to cause Word 2002 to prompt me before saving
changes to the normal document template, as I understand changes to
the template are a prominent cause of corruption for Word. However,
now EVERY time I use Word then go to close it, it says there have been
changes to the normal template and do I want to save them. It does
this even if all I do is open Word then close it. It only does this at
home; on my computer at work, it's fine.

At home, in addition to having Word, Excel, Powerpoint, and Access all
installed, I also have Outlook, Outlook Express, and Internet Explorer
(in addition to various nonMS programs). Is one of these possible
causing the problem?

Any advice appreciated, and apologies if this has already been
addressed umpteen times.

Thanks!
Jeff

 

[Howard Kaikow]

If this occurs when you do NOTHING more than start Word and IMMEDIATELY exit
from Word, then you have one, or more, of:

1. A 3rd party app that is tied to Word.
2. A global template, perhaps in Word's startup directory, perhaps,
elsewhere.
3. Macros that run automatically when Word starts/closes.
4. A virus.

In the case of the first three categories, unfortunately, there are many
poorly implemented, non-malicious, macros and 3rd party apps that do not
properly deal with Word. With few exceptions, properly written software can
do what it needs to do and not cause such messages to be issued.

First, run auntie virus software to reduce the chance that you have a virus.

Next, check for macros, 3rd party or not, and plugins that run automatically
when starting/exiting Word.

If you have PDFMaker, take a look at
http://www.standards.com/OhMyWord/VBABugsFeatures.html.

Note this problem is very annoying and the cause is not always easily
discovered.

For example, I have Normal.dot set read-only as I expect to NEVER change it.
Even tho, the critter is read only and I know what Automatic code I have,
every so often, I get ht same messages you see.
This occurs, it seems, at most twice per year, if that often.

I get rid of the problem by copying the autotext, macros and styles to a
clean, new template file.
I then run a macro to recreate my toolbars, then make the new copy of
Normal.dot read-only, and the problem goes away.
This could be caused only by a bug in Word, or some 3rd party code suddenly
deciding it wants to change the Normal template, even tho there's no reason
to do so.