xx.dot save problem

[Robert]

Starting a couple of days ago, every time I close a Word file on my system, a
dialog box asks, "Do you want to save the changes to xx.dot?"
I want this prompt to go away. I do not want to save any *.dot" files...I
only save Word files as *.doc" Any ideas what made this start to happen and
how I can make it stop? Thanks in advance!!

 

[Mary]

This happens when you accidently save as a template. Word remembers that
choice next time you save. Look in the Save as box and change the choice to
DOC file. Your Normal.dot is probably corrupted, too. Close Word find
Normal.DOT and delete it. It will be recreated when you reopen Word. It's a
hidden file so change your search options accordingly.

 

[Robert]

Mary,
Neither of those suggestions solved the problem. Regarding the "save as"
sugegstion, my save as box was still defaulting to .doc, so there was not
need to change it from .dot
I then deleted the Normal.DOT file.
Then I opened a word file, closed it, and got the same dialogue box as
before asking me if I wanted to save the changes to xx.dot.
Any other ideas?

 

[garfield-n-odie [MVP]]

If you are using Symantec/Norton AntiVirus, try disabling the Office
Plugin that comes with it (but do not disable Norton AutoProtect). See
http://support.microsoft.com/?kbid=329820 "How to use Office programs
with the Norton AntiVirus Office plug-in" for more information.

 

[Graham Mayor]

If you delete normal.dot, Word will create a new one. When you close Word
this will be unsaved, thus you will get a prompt to save it. If you don't
save it initially you will continue to get the prompts. So save the damned
thing! If you continue to get prompts having saved it - see
http://www.gmayor.com/what_to_do_when_word_crashes.htm then
http://word.mvps.org/FAQs/AppErrors/ProbsOpeningWord.htm

You could set Word not to prompt but this creates more problems than it
solves. It has been likened to removing the batteries from a smoke alarm to
stop it making a noise. It is also better to rename normal.dot rather than
simply delete it, as normal.dot contains many of your personalisations,
which will be irrecoverably lost if you delete the file.

You will get a prompt every time you make a change in a document that would
be reflected as a change to normal.dot . This is to give you the opportunity
to save those changes for the benefit of further documents.

From what you have described so far this seems to be the normal intended
action of Word.

--
<>>< ><<> ><<> <>>< ><<> <>>< <>><<>
Graham Mayor - Word MVP


<>>< ><<> ><<> <>>< ><<> <>>< <>><<>

 

[Robert]

Thanks. It turns out that xx.dot was created due to a save conflict that
occurred during the save attempt on another word file. I realized this after
trying to open the other file again, and word asked me what to do with two
versions it was keeping (one was xx.dot). Then I did a c:drive search on
*.dot and deleted a bunch of them, including xx.dot and normal.dot. After
that, the problem was solved.
Thanks for your help.