Normal.dot

[W. Guy Delaney]

When I use Windows Explorer to navigate to C:\Documents and
Settings\Delaney\Application Data\Microsoft\Templates, which is where my
Normal.dot is stored, there are two templates: one is ~$Normal.dot and the
other is Normal.dot.

Should ~$Normal.dot be there or should I delete it?

If it should not be deleted, what is it's purpose?

 

[Margaret Aldis]

Hi Guy

~$Normal.dot is the 'lock file' that tells Word and other applications that
the file is in use. It will normally disappear when you close Word. You
cannot delete it while Word is open.

If you have a crash, the ~$ files tend to get left behind for all the files
open at the time. In this case, you should delete them.