# Weird problem with MSWord **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [March 5, 2007, 7:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/weird-problem-with-msword/394712 "2007-03-05T19:06:14Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 9\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![cruel\_butterfly](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/5daacb/32.png) [@cruel\_butterfly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cruel_butterfly)\ **Post date:** [March 5, 2007, 7:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/weird-problem-with-msword/394712/1 "2007-03-05T19:06:14Z")
I have to help my brother-in-law a lot when he’s working with spreadsheets and documents. Just when I think I don’t know a whole lot about computers and software, he’ll go and foul something up in a new and different way that amazes me. I constantly have to go in and reconstruct spreadsheets for him because he inadvertently erases formulas and doesn’t understand the “undo” function. Anyway, he works in Word a lot to type up employee memos, menus, disciplinary write-ups, etc. Beginning some time a couple weeks ago, everytime he opens the program, a previous document appears. The header still says “document 1”. He has to physically select all, hit delete, then type his stuff. The next time he opens Word, though, the same previous stuff is there. My guess is that he somehow changed a document he was working on into the template (or whatever) that normally brings up a clean, blank screen. How do I make it so that “document 1” comes up blank? I know I haven’t been very clear explaining this, but I can’t seem to figure out how to convey it in writing. ---
**Author:** ![IvoryTowerDenizen](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ivorytowerdenizen/32/17937_2.png) [@IvoryTowerDenizen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/IvoryTowerDenizen)\ **Post date:** [March 5, 2007, 7:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/weird-problem-with-msword/394712/2 "2007-03-05T19:11:26Z")
[QUOTE=cruel butterfly] I have to help my brother-in-law a lot when he’s working with spreadsheets and documents. Just when I think I don’t know a whole lot about computers and software, he’ll go and foul something up in a new and different way that amazes me. I constantly have to go in and reconstruct spreadsheets for him because he inadvertently erases formulas and doesn’t understand the “undo” function. Anyway, he works in Word a lot to type up employee memos, menus, disciplinary write-ups, etc. Beginning some time a couple weeks ago, everytime he opens the program, a previous document appears. The header still says “document 1”. He has to physically select all, hit delete, then type his stuff. The next time he opens Word, though, the same previous stuff is there. My guess is that he somehow changed a document he was working on into the template (or whatever) that normally brings up a clean, blank screen. How do I make it so that “document 1” comes up blank? I know I haven’t been very clear explaining this, but I can’t seem to figure out how to convey it in writing. [/QUOTE] Just a WAG- did he save the document as as \*.dot file (document template)? If so, try renaming the file with a .doc extension. ---
**Author:** ![minor7flat5](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/minor7flat5/32/258_2.png) [@minor7flat5](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/minor7flat5)\ **Post date:** [March 5, 2007, 7:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/weird-problem-with-msword/394712/3 "2007-03-05T19:29:46Z")
Another thought about templates… Sometimes one can corrupt the default template “normal.dot” All you have to do is delete “normal.dot” and Word will generate a fresh one for you the next time you start Word. This cures a large number of unusual conditions. On my ancient work machine (Win2000, Office2000), this file is found here: C:\Documents and Settings<username\>\Application Data\Microsoft\Templates\Normal.dot ---
**Author:** ![cruel\_butterfly](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/5daacb/32.png) [@cruel\_butterfly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cruel_butterfly)\ **Post date:** [March 5, 2007, 7:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/weird-problem-with-msword/394712/4 "2007-03-05T19:45:27Z")
> [@minor7flat5](#): > > Another thought about templates… > > Sometimes one can corrupt the default template “normal.dot” > All you have to do is delete “normal.dot” and Word will generate a fresh one for you the next time you start Word. > This cures a large number of unusual conditions. > > On my ancient work machine (Win2000, Office2000), this file is found here: > > C:\Documents and Settings<username\>\Application Data\Microsoft\Templates\Normal.dot That worked! However, in order to avoid having to do this again and again, how does one “corrupt the default template”? Is it as simple as hitting ctrl + a particular key accidentally? Did he click on the wrong thing at some vital point? How can he keep from doing it again? Thanks! ---
**Author:** ![Harmonious\_Discord](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/74df32/32.png) [@Harmonious\_Discord](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Harmonious_Discord)\ **Post date:** [March 5, 2007, 8:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/weird-problem-with-msword/394712/5 "2007-03-05T20:46:26Z")
Sometimes your asked if you would like to save changes to “normal.doc”, but I don’t remember what prompts it. You could set the "normal.dot property to read only and he won’t be able to save it, if he changes it. You should be able to protect cells on your spreedsheets, so he can’t mess them up either. The key is to look under help for “protect cells”. ---
**Author:** ![minor7flat5](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/minor7flat5/32/258_2.png) [@minor7flat5](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/minor7flat5)\ **Post date:** [March 6, 2007, 3:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/weird-problem-with-msword/394712/6 "2007-03-06T03:27:25Z")
Glad to be able to share one of the weird black magic tips that fixes many ills. Sorry, but I can’t tell you how to keep from corrupting Normal.dot – it just happens from time to time. ---
**Author:** ![CookingWithGas](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cookingwithgas/32/485_2.png) [@CookingWithGas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CookingWithGas)\ **Post date:** [March 6, 2007, 3:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/weird-problem-with-msword/394712/7 "2007-03-06T03:33:59Z")
Looks like the problem is solved but I just have to say how much I enjoyed seeing \*\*Harmonious Discord \*\* and \*\*minor7flat5 \*\* with consecutive posts. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![minor7flat5](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/minor7flat5/32/258_2.png) [@minor7flat5](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/minor7flat5)\ **Post date:** [March 6, 2007, 3:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/weird-problem-with-msword/394712/8 "2007-03-06T03:53:09Z")
[QUOTE=CookingWithGas] Looks like the problem is solved but I just have to say how much I enjoyed seeing \*\*Harmonious Discord \*\* and \*\*minor7flat5 \*\* with consecutive posts. 🙂 [/QUOTE] Well, I’m always providing the **ii** , but I still haven’t found anyone to bring it home with a **V-i** combo to end on a pleasing minor chord. My [namesake](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Half-diminished_seventh_chord) is one of tension, certainly not a place one lingers, so it is a shame to end a thread with me. ---
**Author:** ![Harmonious\_Discord](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/74df32/32.png) [@Harmonious\_Discord](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Harmonious_Discord)\ **Post date:** [March 6, 2007, 11:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/weird-problem-with-msword/394712/9 "2007-03-06T11:34:58Z")
[QUOTE=CookingWithGas] Looks like the problem is solved but I just have to say how much I enjoyed seeing \*\*Harmonious Discord \*\* and \*\*minor7flat5 \*\* with consecutive posts. 🙂 [/QUOTE] Your entertainment is music to the ear. 🙂