Typing delay...letters skipped

[Heather]

I have reached my point of absolute and total frustration! For several
months I have battled with trying to figure out how and why when I type in
Microsoft Word characters are skipped. I am a transcriptionist and it is
really affecting my production rate because I am constantly going back to fix
the missing characters. Here is what I've done so far: I have disabled all
auto features, tried eliminating auto save, and updated my version of Word to
07. I also adjusted key delay etc... My computer has plenty of memory and
this ONLY occurs in Word. I wish it worked as well as this chat box is right
now! I haven't had to correct a single missing character so far! What in
the world can cause this delay that I haven't already attempted? Please tell
me someone has another idea?!!!

 

[Herb Tyson [MVP]]

If you start Word with the /a switch (winword.exe /a), do you still get the
skipped characters problem? Test it by transcribing something.

If /a "solves" the problem, then there is an add-in or corruption issue that
can be addressed. This article provides troubleshooting guidance:


http://word.mvps.org/FAQS/AppErrors/ProbsOpeningWord.htm

If using /a doesn't solve the problem, then there might not be a solution.
It might be that your transcription typing habits are different from your
typing habits in other applications.

You might test this notion by trying something else as a test. WordPad, for
example, is a minimal Word processor, and is included as part of Windows
(Start - Programs - Accessories - WordPad). If possible, you might try it
for a test to see if the same problems occur in WordPad when you're
transcribing.

 

[Heather]

You are a SAINT! I opened using the a prompt and it works beautifully so
there must be a corruption or add in as you said. However, when I referenced
the site you gave me, none of these statements seemed to address the problem
I am having. Is there a similar one that you know of that would help me get
Word back to normal. A good deed is surely coming your way for helping me
solve this problem...I can't tell you how much time I've wasted! Thanks so
much!

 

[Suzanne S. Barnhill]

Try each of the troubleshooting techniques even if the descriptions don't
seem to match your situation. Most problems in Word are created by a damaged
Normal.dot, a damaged Word Data key in the Registry, an add-in, or problems
with the printer driver.

 

[Herb Tyson [MVP]]

Here's what I would try. With Word closed:

1. Find and rename Normal.dotm (to find its location, before you close Word,
choose Office - Open. In Windows XP, you'll see Trusted Templates (in the
places bar), and in Vista, you'll see Templates (in Favorite Links). Note
the exact location. In XP, it will be something like:

C:\Documents and Settings\[user name]\Application Data\Microsoft\Templates.

In Vista, it will be something like:

C:\Users\Herb\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Templates

Close Word, then navigate to the respective location, and rename Normal.dotm
as Normal-old.dotm. While you're there, if you have a Normal.dot file,
rename it as well.

Start Word and see if the problem is fixed. If not... go to 2.

2. With Word closed, start the registry editor (method depends on operating
system... in Vista, click the Start button, then type regedit and press
Enter. In XP, Start - Run - type regedit, press Enter

Caution: using the registry editor can -- if you do the wrong thing -- make
programs not run correctly, and can even prevent your computer from booting.
Please follow these instructions carefully! If you're too queasy about it,
then call one of those Rent-A-Geeks who come out in the yellow cars!

End of shrill warning.

Locate this key:

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Office\12.0\Word\Data

Click on it, press F2, and change the name to Data.old.

Close the registry editor, and start Word, and see if the problem is fixed.
If not, go to 3.

3. In Word, click Office button - Word Options - Add-Ins tab. There will be
a list of Add-ins. What Active Application Add-ins are listed?

At the bottom with Manage set to COM Add-ins, click Go. What do you see
listed there and checked? If Acrobat PDFMaker Office COM Addin is listed and
checked, remove the check, click OK, and see if your problem is fixed.

If none of this works... then try removing the checks next to any other
add-ins listed.



--
Herb Tyson MS MVP
Author of the Word 2007 Bible
Blog: http://word2007bible.herbtyson.com
Web: http://www.herbtyson.com