Word error on startup, then word halts.

E

Eric Udell

On startup, Word offers to send error information to MS,
then restarts Word, upon where it offers to resave the
Normal.Dot .

I've been to
http://word.mvps.org/FAQs/AppErrors/ProbsOpeningWord.htm
and have tried moving all the .dot files, as well as
removing the Data registry entry. The machine has no
symantec products on it, so it's not a norton AV or
security suite conflict.

It will start with the /a or /safe switches, and I've
unistalled and reinstalled it, deleting the directory.

I'm at my wit's end with this one. Any suggestions?
 
S

Shayla J

The file Normal.dot is the template upon which all new
documents are created and work behind the scenes.
Typically when you are prompted to make changes to this
file there may be a problem with it or with your
application settings.

You have determined that it will start in it's "Safe Mode"
which loads word without the Normal.dot template. You have
thus isolated your problem. Although important, this file
is recreated in the event that it is missing, and that is
a good thing. You'll need to deleted the damaged
Normal.dot to force Word to create a new, uncorrupted
version. Follow the steps below.

First Close Microsoft Word.

1. Click the start button
2. Select Search
3. In the Search For Files or Folders Named section, type
Normal.dot
4. In the Look In section select Local Hard Drive C:.
5. Select Search Options (under the Search Now button)
6. Place a check in the Advanced Options check box.
7. Place a check in the Search hidden files and folders
check box.
8. Select the Search Now button
9. Select the Normal.dot file found on the right of the
Search Results window*
10. Press the Delete button on your keyboard**
11. Confirm deletion if prompted.

* If more than one Normal.dot file is located view the
properties of each file (right click and select
properties) or not the In Folder column in the search
window (to see the column select the View menu, select
Details) to see which file is in your profile's folder
(i.e. c:\Documents and Settings\<Your User Name>\...) and
delete that one.

If you don't care to retain the settings of the other
users on your system, select the Edit menu, select Select
All, press the Delete button on your keyboard.

** If you get an error deleting the file, Word may still
be running in the background. If you restart your system
you can easily resolve this problem.
 
S

Suzanne S. Barnhill

It sounds as if you may not have exhausted the possibility that there are
add-ins causing a conflict.
 
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