Failure to retain settings generally indicates a problem with the Data key
in the registry. Relief sometimes can be had simply by starting Word in safe
mode (hold down the Ctrl key and open Word, keeping Ctrl pressed until a
dialog appears offering to start in Safe mode... say Yes. Then promptly
close Word). Now, start Word as you usually would, and see if Word now
remembers the last-opened directory.

If this doesn't fix it, then see the following, and look for the part about
deleting the Data key (Word will automatically create a new one, but you
will lose a few settings that you can easily reapply.):

http://www.officearticles.com/word/s...osoft_word.htm

--
Herb Tyson MS MVP
http://www.herbtyson.com
Please respond in the newsgroups so everyone can follow along.
"Alan Garber" wrote in message
...
I have a problem with MS Word 2003's file manager slipping back to the root
directory. For instance, I'll go into a directory and work on a document.
In one particular case, I'll work on one document, and then use the open
icon to open up the directory again, to go to a second, but related
document I need to refer to. When I do that, I'm not in the directory I've
been working in any longer, but right back at the root directory. I then
have to go back through to get to my directory/document.

A couple of others in the office have this problem. It is an intermittent
problem. Any clues on how to fix this?

Our setup:
MS Word 2003
Windows XP, SP2
Brand new Dells workstation