Assuming that this is not a result of excessive control by net nazis, it may
indicate a problem with the Word Data key in the Registry. See
http://word.mvps.org/FAQs/AppErrors/MissingMenusEtc.htm. Or again, sometimes
failure to retain Options settings is a symptom of interference by an
add-in.

--
Suzanne S. Barnhill
Microsoft MVP (Word)
Words into Type
Fairhope, Alabama USA
Word MVP FAQ site: http://word.mvps.org
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"revonrut" wrote in message
...
In Word 2003, I have unchecked "Allow starting in Reading Layout"
repeatedly,
but somehow it gets re-checked without my doing it. Word seems to retain
my
other preferences, but not this one.