normal.dot

[Joni]

I just got a new Dell Dim E510 computer with Windows XP and I installed Word
2000 from MS Works Suite and some add ins also got installed. If I look in
Add/Remove it lists it shows the following:
Microsoft Works 2000
Microsoft Works 2000 Setup Launcher
Word In Works Suite Add-in


On my new computer with XP:
When I got this new XP computer I had my files and settings transferred
(including Word files). My computer came with WordPerfect ,but I did not
like it so I installed Word 2000 as mentioned above.

When I close WORD documents, I get many messages re changes have been made
to the normal dot template, changes have been made to the global template,
locked for editing etc. No matter what I select to do, I still have
trouble. I have deleted and recreated the normal.dot template according to
directions at
http://www.officearticles.com/word/about_normal_dot_in_microsoft_word.htm (I
thought these were very good directions). Dell software support had me
uninstall and reinstall WORD. I may or may not have tried to remove just
the Word Ad-Ins - I don't remember anymore. WORD has been reinstalled and
the Ad-ins are back. I need very specific step-by-step directions from an
MVP if possible on how to get rid of these messages. I understand it is not
a good idea to just close the office assistant.

On my old computer with Win. 98SE
I know these messages can be gotten rid of. When I first had Win. 98SE with
Works Suite 2000 I had the same problem. Someone at Microsoft (for a large
fee) got the problem straightened out. I do not remember exactly how it was
done. I had NAV on the Win 98SE system and there was an option to enable
office plug ins. I had to disable them because Norton always wanted to run
a virus scan on every word document I opened. That fixed the virus scan
issue. I do not have NAV on this computer. I have McAfee Security System.

I believe the other issue of always getting normal dot change messages had
something to do with the add-ins and may have been fixed by removing them;
however, I believe I was told at the time that might cause a problem. I
believe the problem has something to do with the Works 2000 Task Launcher.
I did not use any other programs in the Works Suite so I suppose this did
not matter to me. Should I just remove the Add-Ins on the XP?

Many thanks

 

[Joni]

In addition, I understand there may be some kind of conflict when closing
with the x. If I close using control w could that solve my problem if it
cannot be solved otherwise?

I can usually get rid of the read only, doc. locked for editing messages by
restarting my computer and I believe I could also just close Word in the
Close menu then reopen it.

It also seems that while using Windows XP I sometime inadvertantly open more
than one copy of Word. Say I have a Word document open, what is the best
way to start a new Word document? I believe I usually click on Word again
on the quick launch. Would it be better to go to the open document and
click on the blank document on the toolbar of the open document, or use some
shortcut command (command?), or would it be better to right click on the
desktop and select new Word document? Please comment. Thanks

 

[Suzanne S. Barnhill]

See “Word prompts me to save changes to the Normal.dot template”
http://office.microsoft.com/en-us/assistance/HA011514521033.aspx

In this case, the message is almost certainly generated by the Microsoft
Works Suite Add-in for Word. If you are running Word freestanding (not
starting it from the Works Task Launcher), you should uninstall this add-in
(through Control Panel | Add/Remove Programs).