Default Layout Changed on MS Word

[flydevin]

All of sudden my default page that opens when I go into MS Word has several tool bars showing that I normally don't use. I have used all of them in the past on occasion, but now they are there all the time. If I close them, they just re-appear the next time I open MS Word. What's happened and how do I get my original screen back? (Using Windows XP - MS Word 2002)

[Miz]

First, in My Computer (or any folder), in Tools>Folder Options>View tab, make sure "Show hidden files and folders" is checked; that "Hide protected operating system files" and "Hide extensions for known file types" are unchecked.

The run a search for "normal.dot" (without the quotes; note that it's .dot not .doc).

When it's found, right click it, left click Delete.

Open Word (which will make a new normal.dot) and see if that solved the problem.

[flydevin]

That's the first thing I tried because I know in Windows 98 our church secretary kept screwing up the "normal" file and we'd have to delete it. However, when I do a search on my system (with all the proper Folder Settings) it doesn't find "normal.dot" on my system. Now what? I just tried to open a clean page in MS Word - to see if it maybe reset itself somehow, and now I've got another "toolbar" checked to show every time Word opens. I've never used this latest one. HELP!

[smurfy]

Set up Word the way you want it (make sure it's a blank document).
Now go File>page setup.
Click the "default" button in the bottom left corner.
This will warn you about overwriting the default template (normal.dot).

[flydevin]

Thanks for the help. The "Default" page set up worked. Then I figured since I KNEW I'd created a new normal.dot file, I'd go look for it. Well - that's when I noticed that my search criteria said, 'will not look for hidden files' - even thought I'd changed it in the Folder View option. I changed that in the search window and BINGO! There it was. You guys are the greatest!