One of the most common problems Microsoft Word users encounter is not being able to start Word or it starts extremely slow. When you double-click the Microsoft Word icon and either nothing happens at all or it attempts to start and then presents an error screen. Or, Word may open, but very slowly and then have trouble opening or saving documents.
All of these symptoms have a common cause. And although frustrating, the solution is relatively easy. Make sure Microsoft Word is NOT RUNNING before performing these steps.
1. Click Start –> Search
2. Click All Files & Folders
3. Type: normal.dot in the “All or part of file name” box or “find what” box.
4. Click “Hidden Files & Folders” in the Advanced section
5. Delete any files that the search finds (Word will make a new one when you open it in the next step)
6. Now try starting Word and all should be well
The normal.dot is the template file that Word uses to set a blank document’s options (margins, fonts, etc). When it becomes corrupt or has problems, it can prevent Word from opening at all. Follow the step’s above to solve the problem quickly.
If this solution doesn’t solve your particular problem, try using the ‘detect & repair’ function in the Help menu of Word 2000 or greater.
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I tried deleting normal.dot because my MS Word has not worked since the last update a month or more ago and this did NOT help it either, I still get an error message and it shuts down right away when I click ok. Anymore ideas??
My error message says…”Microsoft Office Word has not been installed for current user. Please run setup to install the application.” I have uninstalled and re-installed 3 times and I still get this error, when I click ok, it shuts it down completely. I can’t click on help or do anything?? HELP?
Oops, just saw this message too….Try using RevoUninstaller (free version) to uninstall Office before re-installing. Good luck.
This tip won’t correct startup problems, just slowness and other operational problems. Sounds like you need to put in your Office CD and run the repair installation.
I have a blank word document in my task bar for any kind of item that I want to copy & paste, so that I can use quickly. I add, use, & delete the items often. Thus, I use the document daily.
This week the following pop up comes up each time I open the document: “The number must be between 1 and 6550″
I need to click on ok apx 6 times, for it to go away. WHAT is this all about?
Thanx!
Please disregard my question.
Whatever it was, it seems to have corrected.
I had recently c/p’d an item (from online) into this document.
I’ve just deleted that item. Thus the error msg has gone away.
Not sure Anne…try the technique in the tip and see if it works for you. Good luck.
My gremlins continue to be hard at it! How on earth did I manage to get two files exactly the same….With the exact same name??? (blank2.doc) I’ve NEVER had that happen, EVER. (Apparently it never asked to replace this doc when saving) I didn’t think this was possible.
In addition to deleting the item I copied (from online) & pasted into this document…I deleted one of these exact documents. A ‘fix’ is no longer necessary. Come to think of it, I believe this error has come up in the past. I have no idea how it was resolved that time either.
i have saved some work on a memory stick and now when i try to open it, a message pops up saying : illegal qualified name character. how can i access the work i have saved?
Can you rename the file?
Can you print it, maybe to a PDF file?
Can you copy it to your hard drive?
Did you try?: File > Open > Open and Repair
The other thought that comes to mind is: download and install either OpenOffice or LibreOffice and see if you can open the file with that program.
After updating my computer with the lastest Microsoft
update. It switched my email, Outlook Express,to my
start menu and now when I click on the Internet Explorer
I can’t use my Outlook Express and the Mail Armory where
the junk mail is held. Why can’t I put the Outlook Express on the tool bar where it was. I did find the file, edit, favorites, tools and help and put them back where they belonged. I also have the home, feeds, print, page and tools on the second tool bar. Can you help
we are currently in a location where wireless is available (normally it is dialup). What are the safety concerns with leaving the laptop on for extended periods (unattended)?
I had my computer updated recently. I now have “reduced funtionality mode” for MSWord. I can not create new documents or edit existing docouments. How do I remedy this problem?
Why so hard to read?
A spammer wouldnt take the time to
try and figure it out?
OMG, I tried deleting normal.dot
However, it deleted how I had all the
tool bars set up exactly as I wanted.
Fortunately I was able to restore it!
Just thought I’d letcha know that wasnt
a good choice for . I’m open to any
other quick fix suggestions.
Thank you!
Regarding recent poll on cost range
of computers.
It seems my mate’s hard drive just
died. Since his puter is 7 years old,
have no idea of what’s considered the
norm for the tower, XP, sound, software,
price, & extremely user friendly.
I’m not even sure I’m asking what I’d
like to know.
Thanx