Missing Normal.dot 1

[chuckann3041]

Everytime I open Outlook 2003, I get an error: Word cannot open the existing (Normal). I thought maybe my normal.dot was corrupt, but I can't find the file at all. It doesn't exist. Even when I open up word to get a new one, it doesn't appear. Is this the reasong for my error???

K. Kemp

http://www.americanmadeflooring.com

 

[eman6]

Word automatically create Normal.dot if deleted or disappeared for any reason, which is why you are advised to delete it if it is corrupted.

My guess is: you have a virus!!

_______________________________________

Eman_2005
Technical Communicator

http://www.smartistek.com

 

[chuckann3041]

No viruses or spyware.

K. Kemp

http://www.americanmadeflooring.com

 

[eman6]

It is not 'Normal' that you have no 'Normal.dot'
When you run Word, or open a document, have a look at Tools_Options_File Locations
See in the list: User Templates
See also WorkGroup Templates
It might be pointing to a location that is no longer valid.
Click Modify to correct it.
If this did not work, try re-installing Word.


_______________________________________

Eman_2005
Technical Communicator

http://www.smartistek.com

 

[KenWright]

Help / Detect & Repair

Have the installation media to hand if necessary.

Regards
Ken.............

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It's easier to beg forgiveness than ask permission
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[bluedragon2]

Also, make sure where Word expects it to be that the rights for that directory have not changed.

[Blue]Blue[/Blue] [Dragon]

If I wasn't Blue, I would just be a Dragon...

 

[tf1]

Several points here. Firstly in Office 2003, Word does NOT have a normal.dot until the user makes a change that requires to be saved, i.e. you use Format, Font, change a font parameter and then press Default or use File, page Setup, make a change and press Default. That would force a normal.dot to be created.

Normal.dot is a hidden system file, It normally resides in Documents and Setting, username, Applications Data, Microsoft, Templates folder. But in Explorer make sure that you have settings to show Hidden and Sytem Files and that Registered file extentions are NOT hidden.

Open Word and go to Tools, Options, Save tab and make sure that the Prompt to Save Normal.Dot box is checked too. And under the File locations Tab, make sure that User Templates is set to Documents and Settings, Username, Application Data, Microsot, Templates.

If this still doesn't work, once you have set Explorer to show all files, search for normal.dot to make sure that you don't have a rogue normal.dot9s) somewhere else.



Regards: tf1

 

[fumei]

Hey tf1 - really? So if you make a brand new install of Word 2003, and do not do anything - except open Word - if you did a system search for normal.dot, there would not be one? Really?

Gerry

 

[tf1]

Hi Gerry

That's absolutely correct. If you install Office 2003 on a clean machine (i.e. there is no legacy normal.dot from a previous version), Word will not have a normal.dot nor will it create a normal.dot until it is forced by a change to the default settings.

Terry


Regards: tf1

 

[fumei]

Thanks Terry....never knew that. Just another little tidbit, but appreciated none the less.

Gerry

 

[chuckann3041]

tf1, Thanks a bunch...I didn't have the Prompt to Save Normal.dot checked. I also changed my default font so that a normal.dot file would be created. This fixed my problem. Thanks to everyone else for you suggestions too. I appreciate it!

K. Kemp

http://www.americanmadeflooring.com