lost normal.dot

[Compound]

Got a strange problem popped up a couple of days ago - so far it isn't
responding to anything I have tried.
On opening word 2000 the first screen comes up - then a message 'MS Word for
windows has encountered a problem and needs to close.'
I have tried a couple of ideas on the MS Office Knowledge base - one of
these requires locating and deleting all copies of normal.dot. Strangely, I
cannot locate ANY copies on the entire PC !
Next thing I tried was to uninstall Office 2000 Pro to clear the problem
with a new copy. That's where things went REALLY pear-shaped - I can't
uninstall Office !!
I get a message about a feature in a folder 'Temp\sr1patch' being
unavailable.
Baffled
Anyone come across this gremlin or similar ??

 

[TF]

See http://word.mvps.org/FAQs/AppErrors/ProbsOpeningWord.htm.

You probably cannot find normal.dot because it is handled as a hidden system
file unless you change the options in Windows Explorer, Tools, Folder
Options, View tab. Make sure that you clear options to hide system files and
document extensions and that Display content of Systems folder is enable. By
default, normal.dot is in Documents and Settings, username, Application
Data, Microsoft, Template folder.



: Got a strange problem popped up a couple of days ago - so far it isn't
: responding to anything I have tried.
: On opening word 2000 the first screen comes up - then a message 'MS Word
for
: windows has encountered a problem and needs to close.'
: I have tried a couple of ideas on the MS Office Knowledge base - one of
: these requires locating and deleting all copies of normal.dot. Strangely,
I
: cannot locate ANY copies on the entire PC !
: Next thing I tried was to uninstall Office 2000 Pro to clear the problem
: with a new copy. That's where things went REALLY pear-shaped - I can't
: uninstall Office !!
: I get a message about a feature in a folder 'Temp\sr1patch' being
: unavailable.
: Baffled
: Anyone come across this gremlin or similar ??
:
:

 

[Compound]

Thanks for swift reply Terry.
Not that easy, however..... (never is)
I have view of hidden folders switched on.
Oddly, search still didn't spot normal.dot. It is where you said it would
be - so that's not the problem. Since Word won't start at all, I can't seem
to get any further. I tried a System restore to a month ago when I knew
everything was fine - no better, same message.
Also tried uninstalling Office 2000 Pro entirely. - guess what - can't, as
my Windows XP Pro Installer also seems to be broke (see post on WinXP help
group)

 

[Suzanne S. Barnhill]

If you have found Normal.dot, then try renaming it. Does Word work if you
start it with the /a switch as recommended?

 

[Charles Kenyon]

See http://word.mvps.org/FAQs/AppErrors/ProbsOpeningWord.htm.
--
Charles Kenyon

Word New User FAQ & Web Directory: http://addbalance.com/word

Intermediate User's Guide to Microsoft Word (supplemented version of
Microsoft's Legal Users' Guide) http://addbalance.com/usersguide

See also the MVP FAQ: http://www.mvps.org/word which is awesome!
--------- --------- --------- --------- --------- ---------
This message is posted to a newsgroup. Please post replies
and questions to the newsgroup so that others can learn
from my ignorance and your wisdom.

 

[Bob Buckland ?:-\)]

Hi Robert,

You may want to search for just
normal
rather than the full file name.

If you're not able to uninstall or to
run Detect & Repair successfully from
either the Help menu in Word or from
the Microsoft Office/Word choice in Add/Remove
Programs in the windows control panel then the
registry entries may be damaged, or there may be
an incomplete update 'stuck' in an inprocess mode
In the latter case there may be a shortcut on the
desktop for completing it.

You may want to try MS Installer cleanup utility here
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;290301&FR=1
to clear the Office/Word registry entries
then reinstall Word after first clearing
out the temp files found from Start=>Find/search
using a name search string of
~$*.*;*.tmp

Be sure to backup your documents and files prior
to doing this or any major software installation/reinstallation.

Installing or reinstalling will not provide a
new Normal.dot. It isn't a file that ships on the
CD but rather one that Word creates when you first
exit the program.

========
Thanks for swift reply Terry.
Not that easy, however..... (never is)
I have view of hidden folders switched on.
Oddly, search still didn't spot normal.dot. It is where you said it would
be - so that's not the problem. Since Word won't start at all, I can't seem
to get any further. I tried a System restore to a month ago when I knew
everything was fine - no better, same message.
Also tried uninstalling Office 2000 Pro entirely. - guess what - can't, as
my Windows XP Pro Installer also seems to be broke (see post on WinXP help
group) <<

--
Let us know if this helped you,

Bob Buckland ?
MS Office System Products MVP

*Courtesy is not expensive and can pay big dividends*

Office 2003 Editions explained
http://www.microsoft.com/uk/office/editions.mspx

 

[Compound]

Tried renaming normal.dot as Xnormal.dot - no change.
Not sure what u mean by starting with /a. I usually start
word from a desktop shortcut, or from the START menu list.
However, on powerup, word is now starting everytime without
asking - and then reporting it has to close down. Installer
is then going through its attempt and also failing. Seems
I'm locked in a loop with no exit.
Wierd that even a System Restore to a date in mid March
still won't break this loop.

 

[Charles Kenyon]

/a

On the Start menu is the Run command. Use that. Type in the material between
quotation marks and press enter.

"winword.exe /a"

--
Charles Kenyon

Word New User FAQ & Web Directory: http://addbalance.com/word

Intermediate User's Guide to Microsoft Word (supplemented version of
Microsoft's Legal Users' Guide) http://addbalance.com/usersguide

See also the MVP FAQ: http://www.mvps.org/word which is awesome!
--------- --------- --------- --------- --------- ---------
This message is posted to a newsgroup. Please post replies
and questions to the newsgroup so that others can learn
from my ignorance and your wisdom.

 

[Compound]

Thanks, Charles. Tried that route - and lo and behold, word starts OK but
still won't start by the usual route ! Now working through the helpsheet on
word.mvps.org - more later

 

[Compound]

HI Charles (and group),
Now trying item 2 routines from ProbsOpeningWord article
a) This allows word to open, documents can be opened, amended and saved
back. Then tried 2 a) i) - located normal.dot in Application
data\Microsoft\templates and renamed it Normal.old. Doesn't fix the
problem, so went to 2 a) ii)
Tried all 3 ways to locate Startup path with 3 different results.
(1) in Word\Tools\Options\File Locations the path is -
C:\docs&settings\Bob\Application Data\Microsoft\Word\STARTUP - this folder
is completely empty.
(2) doing a search for *.dot found over 100 of them located in - C:\Program
Files\Microsoft Office\Templates(2)\1033(2)\
(3) searching the Registry item
HKEY_CURRENT_USERS\Software\Microsoft\Office\9.0\Word\Options\"STARTUP-PATH"
gives no result at all - there simply isn't a "STARTUP-PATH" in the Options
group.

So I'm not sure how to execute 2 a) ii) Moving files - which files ? - and
what is significance of (1) and (3) empty locations ??

 

[Compound]

Further to my last post, I have now removed the Data folder from the
registry as per 'Problems opening' 2 b). No change so presume it must be
corrupt template(s) ???
2 c) network printer is not likely as this is a stand alone PC.
Not sure if 2 d) applies though I am running NAV and recently loaded WinFax
PRO 10.0 (not 10.02) but NAV has run happily for over 12 months without
problems.

 

[Compound]

Suzanne,
Thanks for helping out so far, but my level of expertise is such that I
would still appreciate your further advice as to what to do next.
I have re-posted to the group, so far without response.
On a seperate issue, I have passed the breakdown of Windows XP Installer to
MS for resolution.
With their help, I have located a Startup item - opware32 - which is causing
both Word and Installer error messages to appear.
MS has not so far cleared the Installer problem, but when they do - would
one possibility be uninstalling Office 2000 entirely and performing a new
Install of program and updates ?
In the meantime, can you comment on the following results, which I don't
understand at all.
Thanks in anticipation.,.

Now trying item 2 routines from ProbsOpeningWord article
a) This allows word to open, documents can be opened, amended and saved
back. Then tried 2 a) i) - located normal.dot in Application
data\Microsoft\templates and renamed it Normal.old. Doesn't fix the
problem, so went to 2 a) ii)
Tried all 3 ways to locate Startup path with 3 different results.
(1) in Word\Tools\Options\File Locations the path is -
C:\docs&settings\Bob\Application Data\Microsoft\Word\STARTUP - this folder
is completely empty.
(2) doing a search for *.dot found over 100 of them located in - C:\Program
Files\Microsoft Office\Templates(2)\1033(2)\
(3) searching the Registry item
HKEY_CURRENT_USERS\Software\Microsoft\Office\9.0\Word\Options\"STARTUP-PATH"
gives no result at all - there simply isn't a "STARTUP-PATH" in the Options
group.

So I'm not sure how to execute 2 a) ii) Moving files - which files ? - and
what is the significance of (1) and (3) being empty locations ??

Bob

 

[Jay Freedman]

Hi Bob,

I thought I'd join the party for a little while.

Uninstalling and reinstalling Word often does nothing to fix startup
problems and crashes. The reason is that these problems are usually the
result of damage in Normal.dot, another template or add-in, or the registry.
By design, the Office installer never removes any of these items -- the
assumption is that you may then reinstall or upgrade, and you'll want to
keep whatever customizations are stored in them rather than starting from
ground zero. Unfortunately, when you're really trying to blow the whole
thing away, it's quite difficult.

There is a tool, eraser2k.exe, that may help finish the job after you
uninstall Office 2000 from the Add/Remove Programs dialog. It will run only
on Windows 95, 98, or 2000 but not on XP. You can download it from
Microsoft's site at http://support.microsoft.com/kb/239938. Before you go
that route, though, finish the steps in the MVPs article.

The steps in the article lead you through a process of elimination. So far
you've eliminated two of the three possible locations of the problem. The /a
switch disables Normal.dot, add-ins (templates in the Startup folder), and
certain entries in the registry. Because Word runs properly (but with
reduced functionality) when you use the /a switch, one of those items is
responsible.

The absence of files in the Startup folder and the absence of a STARTUP-PATH
entry in the registry mean that you've never created or used an add-in, or
customized the location of the Startup folder. In that case, you can just
skip step 2(a)(ii). The problem must be either in Normal.dot or in the
registry. Since renaming Normal.dot in step 2(a)(i) didn't help, that
leaves the registry as the only candidate. Therefore, continue to step 2(b)
of the procedure.

 

[Charles Kenyon]

Or it could be a COM add-in.
http://word.mvps.org/FAQs/Customization/CheckIfAddinsInstalled.htm
--
Charles Kenyon

Word New User FAQ & Web Directory: http://addbalance.com/word

Intermediate User's Guide to Microsoft Word (supplemented version of
Microsoft's Legal Users' Guide) http://addbalance.com/usersguide

See also the MVP FAQ: http://www.mvps.org/word which is awesome!
--------- --------- --------- --------- --------- ---------
This message is posted to a newsgroup. Please post replies
and questions to the newsgroup so that others can learn
from my ignorance and your wisdom.

 

[Compound]

Thanks for joining in Jay. However, the solution has not got any nearer! I
have deleted the Data folder in the Registry without effecting a cure.
So.....I am now at a loss as to the next step. Leaning towards the idea
that has been mentioned before - I downloaded / installed upgrade sr1 to
Office 2000 some time ago, and have since dumped the installatiuon files
during a cleanup exercise. Could this be connected ? I've tried to
re-download this upgrade, but system says i've already got it, and won't
re-install !
I might try that prog you suggest - once MS has mended my Installer !!

Bob

 

[Compound]

Hi group,
Digging a little deeper into the trigger for the error messages in Word and
Installer, I have identified the program as a Startup item called
'opware32'. Looking on the Startup page of msconfig shows the location of
this program to be 'C:\Program Files\Scansoft\OmniPageSE\opware32.exe'.
Can't understand why this program is upsetting things as it's been around
since I first loaded up my scanner ages ago ??

 

[Compound]

CONGRATULATIONS go to Charles Kenyon !!! (and the MVP article on Add-ins)
From the article Charles steered me to, I found two files in
Office\Startup - WFWORD2K.dot and ~$WORD2K.dot
I deleted both of these, and we're back to normal !!! I can only presume
that my recent installation of WinFax PRO 10.0 inserted one or both of
these. Shouldn't have been a problem, but that's life.....
Thanks everyone for contributions. Keep up the good work.

Bob

 

[TF]

WinFax! Norton/Symantec again.



: CONGRATULATIONS go to Charles Kenyon !!! (and the MVP article on Add-ins)
: From the article Charles steered me to, I found two files in
: Office\Startup - WFWORD2K.dot and ~$WORD2K.dot
: I deleted both of these, and we're back to normal !!! I can only presume
: that my recent installation of WinFax PRO 10.0 inserted one or both of
: these. Shouldn't have been a problem, but that's life.....
: Thanks everyone for contributions. Keep up the good work.
:
: Bob
:
: message : > Or it could be a COM add-in.
: > http://word.mvps.org/FAQs/Customization/CheckIfAddinsInstalled.htm
: > --
: > Charles Kenyon
: >
: > Word New User FAQ & Web Directory: http://addbalance.com/word
: >
: > Intermediate User's Guide to Microsoft Word (supplemented version of
: > Microsoft's Legal Users' Guide) http://addbalance.com/usersguide
: >
: > See also the MVP FAQ: http://www.mvps.org/word which is awesome!
: > --------- --------- --------- --------- --------- ---------
: > This message is posted to a newsgroup. Please post replies
: > and questions to the newsgroup so that others can learn
: > from my ignorance and your wisdom.
: >
: > : >> Hi Bob,
: >>
: >> I thought I'd join the party for a little while.
: >>
: >> Uninstalling and reinstalling Word often does nothing to fix startup
: >> problems and crashes. The reason is that these problems are usually the
: >> result of damage in Normal.dot, another template or add-in, or the
: >> registry.
: >> By design, the Office installer never removes any of these items -- the
: >> assumption is that you may then reinstall or upgrade, and you'll want
to
: >> keep whatever customizations are stored in them rather than starting
from
: >> ground zero. Unfortunately, when you're really trying to blow the whole
: >> thing away, it's quite difficult.
: >>
: >> There is a tool, eraser2k.exe, that may help finish the job after you
: >> uninstall Office 2000 from the Add/Remove Programs dialog. It will run
: >> only
: >> on Windows 95, 98, or 2000 but not on XP. You can download it from
: >> Microsoft's site at http://support.microsoft.com/kb/239938. Before you
go
: >> that route, though, finish the steps in the MVPs article.
: >>
: >> The steps in the article lead you through a process of elimination. So
: >> far
: >> you've eliminated two of the three possible locations of the problem.
The
: >> /a
: >> switch disables Normal.dot, add-ins (templates in the Startup folder),
: >> and
: >> certain entries in the registry. Because Word runs properly (but with
: >> reduced functionality) when you use the /a switch, one of those items
is
: >> responsible.
: >>
: >> The absence of files in the Startup folder and the absence of a
: >> STARTUP-PATH
: >> entry in the registry mean that you've never created or used an add-in,
: >> or
: >> customized the location of the Startup folder. In that case, you can
just
: >> skip step 2(a)(ii). The problem must be either in Normal.dot or in the
: >> registry. Since renaming Normal.dot in step 2(a)(i) didn't help, that
: >> leaves the registry as the only candidate. Therefore, continue to step
: >> 2(b)
: >> of the procedure.
: >>
: >> --
: >> Regards,
: >> Jay Freedman
: >> Microsoft Word MVP
: >>
: >> Compound wrote:
: >>> Suzanne,
: >>> Thanks for helping out so far, but my level of expertise is such that
: >>> I would still appreciate your further advice as to what to do next.
: >>> I have re-posted to the group, so far without response.
: >>> On a seperate issue, I have passed the breakdown of Windows XP
: >>> Installer to MS for resolution.
: >>> With their help, I have located a Startup item - opware32 - which is
: >>> causing both Word and Installer error messages to appear.
: >>> MS has not so far cleared the Installer problem, but when they do -
: >>> would one possibility be uninstalling Office 2000 entirely and
: >>> performing a new Install of program and updates ?
: >>> In the meantime, can you comment on the following results, which I
: >>> don't understand at all.
: >>> Thanks in anticipation.,.
: >>>
: >>> Now trying item 2 routines from ProbsOpeningWord article
: >>> a) This allows word to open, documents can be opened, amended and
: >>> saved back. Then tried 2 a) i) - located normal.dot in Application
: >>> data\Microsoft\templates and renamed it Normal.old. Doesn't fix the
: >>> problem, so went to 2 a) ii)
: >>> Tried all 3 ways to locate Startup path with 3 different results.
: >>> (1) in Word\Tools\Options\File Locations the path is -
: >>> C:\docs&settings\Bob\Application Data\Microsoft\Word\STARTUP - this
: >>> folder is completely empty.
: >>> (2) doing a search for *.dot found over 100 of them located in -
: >>> C:\Program Files\Microsoft Office\Templates(2)\1033(2)\
: >>> (3) searching the Registry item
: >>>
: >>
HKEY_CURRENT_USERS\Software\Microsoft\Office\9.0\Word\Options\"STARTUP-PATH"
: >>> gives no result at all - there simply isn't a "STARTUP-PATH" in the
: >>> Options group.
: >>>
: >>> So I'm not sure how to execute 2 a) ii) Moving files - which files ?
: >>> - and what is the significance of (1) and (3) being empty locations
: >>> ??
: >>>
: >>> Bob
: >>>
: >>> : >>>> If you have found Normal.dot, then try renaming it. Does Word work
: >>>> if you start it with the /a switch as recommended?
: >>>>
: >>>> --
: >>>> Suzanne S. Barnhill
: >>>> Microsoft MVP (Word)
: >>>> Words into Type
: >>>> Fairhope, Alabama USA
: >>
: >>>> Email cannot be acknowledged; please post all follow-ups to the
: >>>> newsgroup so
: >>>> all may benefit.
: >>>>
: >>>> : >>>>> Thanks for swift reply Terry.
: >>>>> Not that easy, however..... (never is)
: >>>>> I have view of hidden folders switched on.
: >>>>> Oddly, search still didn't spot normal.dot. It is where you said it
: >>>>> would
: >>>>> be - so that's not the problem. Since Word won't start at all, I
: >>>>> can't seem to get any further. I tried a System restore to a month
: >>>>> ago when I knew everything was fine - no better, same message.
: >>>>> Also tried uninstalling Office 2000 Pro entirely. - guess what -
: >>>>> can't, as
: >>>>> my Windows XP Pro Installer also seems to be broke (see post on
: >>>>> WinXP help
: >>>>> group)
: >>>>> "TF" <terryfarrell%40%6d%73%6e%2ecom> wrote in message
: >>>>> : >>>>>> See http://word.mvps.org/FAQs/AppErrors/ProbsOpeningWord.htm.
: >>>>>>
: >>>>>> You probably cannot find normal.dot because it is handled as a
: >>>>>> hidden system
: >>>>>> file unless you change the options in Windows Explorer, Tools,
: >>>>>> Folder Options, View tab. Make sure that you clear options to hide
: >>>>>> system files
: >>>>>> and
: >>>>>> document extensions and that Display content of Systems folder is
: >>>>>> enable. By
: >>>>>> default, normal.dot is in Documents and Settings, username,
: >>>>>> Application Data, Microsoft, Template folder.
: >>>>>>
: >>>>>> --
: >>>>>> Terry Farrell - Word MVP
: >>>>
: >>>>>>
: >>>>>> : >>>>>>> Got a strange problem popped up a couple of days ago - so far it
: >>>>>>> isn't responding to anything I have tried.
: >>>>>>> On opening word 2000 the first screen comes up - then a message
: >>>>>>> 'MS
: >>>> Word
: >>>>>> for
: >>>>>>> windows has encountered a problem and needs to close.'
: >>>>>>> I have tried a couple of ideas on the MS Office Knowledge base -
: >>>>>>> one of these requires locating and deleting all copies of
: >>>>>>> normal.dot.
: >>>>>> Strangely,
: >>>>>> I
: >>>>>>> cannot locate ANY copies on the entire PC !
: >>>>>>> Next thing I tried was to uninstall Office 2000 Pro to clear the
: >>>>>>> problem with a new copy. That's where things went REALLY
: >>>>>>> pear-shaped - I can't uninstall Office !!
: >>>>>>> I get a message about a feature in a folder 'Temp\sr1patch' being
: >>>>>>> unavailable.
: >>>>>>> Baffled
: >>>>>>> Anyone come across this gremlin or similar ??
: >>
: >>
: >
: >
:
: