[Leroy]

Whew! Thank you, Gordon. The data key deletion fixed the problem,

"Graham Mayor" wrote:

Whoa - step back a bit. You are getting close, but in danger of wrecking the
ship.

The missing file will have been replaced but the registry entry and the
default template are still present.

1. Go to tools options view and uncheck 'picture placeholders' and check
'drawings'

If that doesn't fix the problem:-

2. Close Word and Outlook.

3. If you look at http://www.gmayor.com/my_toolbars_are_missing.htm - this
will demonstrate how to delete the data key in the registry (albeit to deal
with a different problem). Delete the key as shown and when you start Word
it will rebuild a new one with the default settings for tools options.

4. Normal.dot is a normally hidden file so you will need to search for
hidden files. Set Windows Explorer tools folder options view to
display hidden files and the extensions of known file types (you can always
change it back again later).

5. Locate the file and rename it to oldnormal.dot

6. Restart Word

7. Go back to 1.


--

Graham Mayor - Word MVP

My web site www.gmayor.com
Word MVP web site http://word.mvps.org





Leroy wrote:
First of all, thank you for your patience. I'm an average home-user
to whom apparently simple tasks seem enormously complex.

I reinstalled Word 2003 and one thing I did notice right away was
that a Word doc opened in Safe mode does NOT now complain in advance
about any missing file. However, the docs remain the same, with
empty picture frames.

I know, I shouldn't have opened a doc before changing the registry
key, but I couldn't figure out how to do that. For example, I hunted
for the registry keys to change normal.dot to abnormal.dot, as you
requested, and after finding no help from Help, I opened System
DataOfficeWord 2003 Settings...and got "MS Office Word is not
available," which baffles me.

I also did a basic search for "normal.dot" which turned up nothing.

Am I getting close? I certainly am getting desperate.

"Graham Mayor" wrote:

Are you sure the CAB file number is correct?
I can find PR308246.CAB on the Office install disc, but not
PR208246.CAB? Search the installation disc for this file.
If you chose at install to add the installation files to the hard
drive they will also be in a folder called MSOCache.
Re-run setup directly from the installation CD. After some
initialisation you will be given an option to repair or reinstall
Word. Repairing should work.
To restore Word to its installation defaults. Before restarting Word
- rename the Word data key in the registry and rename normal.dot to
oldnormal.dot. Both should be explained in the link I posted earlier.
--

Graham Mayor - Word MVP

My web site www.gmayor.com
Word MVP web site http://word.mvps.org


Leroy wrote:
Don't want to be a pest but I'm stymied by this search for a missing
file. Starting with Help, as you suggested, I've searched MS fairly
thoroughly and don't find anything relative among the many answers
to indications like, "Find missing file", "Find missing file on
disk", "Find missing CAB file," etc.

It may help to know that my Word 2003 is an upgrade. But the closest
that information gets me is to a category that says: "If you
installed your Offrice program individually, click the name of your
program in the Currently installed program box, then click Change
button."

Since I don't know what that might imply, I don't dare go near that
Change button.

Can this CAB file be found on the web and downloaded? I cited it
specifically in a few search boxes but drew blanks.

And yes, your right: Safe mode is not a permanent fix; my word files
still open with empty picture frames when I don't use Safe mode. On
the Options section only "White spaces, etc." is checked on Print
and Web Layout Options.








"Graham Mayor" wrote:

Safe mode is not a permanent fix. It merely presents Word's
defaults. You need to check the settings in Word tools options.
As for the mising file, repair Word from the help menu with the
disc available.

--

Graham Mayor - Word MVP

My web site www.gmayor.com
Word MVP web site http://word.mvps.org


Leroy wrote:
Voila! Safe mode worked: My Word docs came back in perfect shape.
I saved the two that had previously opened on top of themselves,
hoping that this way the Safe mode becomes fixed. Right now it's
late here (Spain) and I haven't got the energy to see if the fix
has been permanent for all my Word files.

Incidentally, I got confused by the original onscreen notice that
I couldn't get into safe mode because a certain file could not be
found: PR208246CAB; and that I should insert the original
application disc. I did insert the disc but there was no
indication of what I should do next. In frustration, I cancelled,
and what do you know, there was Safe mode waiting to be opened.

"Graham Mayor" wrote:

Does it work OK with Word in its safe mode? Start Word with the
CTRL key pressed.
My guess is that the aborted PDF creation screwed up your Word
data key settings in tools options.
The documents should be OK provided you leave them alone until
you have corrected the settings. Start with tools options
view - uncheck picture place holders.
See also http://www.gmayor.com/what_to_do_when_word_crashes.htm
then http://word.mvps.org/FAQs/AppErrors/...peningWord.htm

--

Graham Mayor - Word MVP

My web site www.gmayor.com
Word MVP web site http://word.mvps.org


Leroy wrote:
I'm scared at what has suddenly happened: I was creating a Pdf
from a Word doc and cancelled half-way, but resumed a moment
later. PDf created fine. But now all my Word docs in that same
folder open as if they are preparing to become Pdfs: empty boxes
replace images and special headings. Inc redibly, the backup
files on my finger drive come out exactly the same. Cold it be
that I have lost ten years of carefully-crafted, family-history
work, beginning with Win95?

I've tried everything on the toolbox I can see but nothing
helps. Even new Word docs have changed: now they open with a
thin text-area margin that nothing will remove (although is not
present on a screen print preview). That never happened before.

I have WinXP-SP2 , running a self-standing Word 2003 (no Office)
that has worked perfectly up to this moment.

I have Adobe Reader and a program called Doc-U-Desk creates my
Pdfs. Neither Adobe nor Doc-U-Desk hint in their FAQ lists at
anything like this happening.

I would appreciate ANY tips that might lead me out of this bind.