Normal.dot - Word

[Dullo]

When I do my Word 2000 Normal.dot template defaults when I close Word. All this Normal.dot does is bother my Word program.
I have read my books, magazines, Microsoft/kb/Q Articles and can find no way of delteting the Normal.dot, or at least placing it in an out of the way place. All this wart does is give me "...illegal operations..". Currently I have a Normal.dot folder that I do not know what it is, nor can I delete it using the Menu bar or Save box.
Any help on how to delete, or at least, each time get this Normal.pain out of the way would capture my unlimited thanks.

[smurfy]

Now Dullo/Ki, I know you've already had the answer from Steve Jones at Virtual Dr here (http://discussions.virtualdr.com/Forum10/HTML/001256.html)

But I'm curious why you could not find this (http://support.microsoft.com/support/kb/articles/Q211/5/41.ASP?LN=EN-US&SD=gn&FR=0&qry=normal.dot&rnk=1&src=DHCS_MSPSS_gn_SRCH&SPR=WRD20) in the MSKB?
Normal.dot is a vital part of Word, sets preferences for a default document. Deleting or renaming is the first step towards fixing many faults in Word.

------------------
Smurfy
Suggest A Fix (http://www.suggestafix.com) & CyberTech Help (http://www.cybertechhelp.com) moderator.
smurfynz@netscape.net

[Dullo]

smurfy - It was my understanding that I could Post on as many Web sites as I wished. If there is a prohibition on utilizing other Web sites please advise.
I do have the kb/articles on Normal.dot. But none of them advise on how to correct the continual reappearance of a template you do not wish.
After recieving guidance from another Web site I followed kb/Q211541, which is printed incorrectly. Q214215 guides when Normal.dot is C:\...\1033, of which mine is not. Q241763 advises on how to retain Normal.dot, which I do not want to do.
To avoid my misunderstanding, are you also Moderating Virtual Dr. thru Cyber Tech?
Help me be correct.

[smurfy]

Dullo, I was merely pointing out that I had been "beaten to the punch" by Steve answering your post at V Dr. I was not trying to imply you were in any way wrong by posting in other forums.
If others looked in on this post, they would otherwise wonder why I did not specifically answer your question unless I provided a link to the place where it was already answered.
No, I do not moderate at Virtual Dr, but you may notice I have been a member there a lot longer than I have here.
I do moderate here and at Suggest-a-fix and you will find many people are members of all of these three excellent help forums.

As I mentioned above, word cannot operate without a "normal.dot" file.
The Normal template

The Normal template is a general-purpose template for any type of document. When you start Word or click New , Word creates a new blank document that is based on the Normal template. You can modify this template to change the default document formatting or content.
Word also uses the Normal template to store the AutoText entries, macros, toolbars, and custom menu settings and shortcut keys you routinely use. Customized items that you store in the Normal template are available for use with any document.

You should store the Normal template in the Templates folder or in the User Templates or Workgroup Templates file location you specified on the File Locations tab (Tools menu, Options command). If Word can't find the Normal template in any of these locations or in your Word program folder, it creates a new Normal template with the standard Word document formats and the standard menu, toolbar, and shortcut key settings.
Hope this has helped.

By the way, can you confirm the behaviour mentioned at V Dr about W2000 insisting on seperate Word Sessions for each new document?

------------------
Smurfy
Suggest A Fix (http://www.suggestafix.com) & CyberTech Help (http://www.cybertechhelp.com) moderator.
smurfynz@netscape.net

[Dullo]

Smurfy - Thanx for your graciolus reply. I have hard copied most of your reply for my W2000 guide binder.
My negative demeanor about W2000 comes from the fact that of the two W2000 short courses I had Normal.dot was not mentioned. I first met it when I got the "...illegal operation..." message. Then I am going nuts trying to dispose of something I knew nothing about. Utilizing another Web site (one you missed) that had an excellent W2000 user, I was advised that Normal.dot was an unwanted wart, and how to get it aside. And I agreed with that user as I know how to make my own templates, use all the tool bars, whatever I want without the use of Normal.dot. But Normal.dot does not go away.
I agree with you. I do not understand the Wentz, VDr. reference to opening of mulitple documents for multiple sessions. I only guess it refers to commercial users that do a text paper here, stop, then do another partial, then perhaps another partial paper, each waiting for some research or data input, thus having 3 or 4 W2000 documents in the works at once.
FYI: That misprint I cited previously is in Q211541, under Resolutlion, para. 3. Change Edit to File.
My negative view of Normal.dot is enhanced because I have 6 books on W2000, plus the kb/Q articles, and none of them advise on how to use it. In summnation, they only say here it is and it stores stuff. And the fact that W2000 brings Normal.dot up everytime one goes to Word is ridiculous. That is akin to bringing up Clip Art, or any other feature whenever I want to type upon my own simple template.
And I do thank you for helping me with this.
And me asking questions on different Web sites is akin to taking the same computer class a second time, but with a different instructor. And I have. Different users will offer that one sentence, that one button, one check mark, that will make it all fall into place when mated to an advisory received from another Web site.
I do appreciate your time and hope you will continue to guide me through my learning difficulties. If users did not need continuing help there would not be any Q&A sites for people like me to fall back on.

[Harrie]

I know this is sort of inane and not relative to anything specific, but I lurk a lot on an MS Word Board to learn as much as I can, or if I have a problem, and......I don't understand too well about normal dot but my feeling I've gotten from there is that it is extremely important and that if and when it gets corrupted, it spells trouble! Here is a link to that board, although most of what they discuss there probably wouldn't interest you; (because it's a transcriptionist's board) however, it's hard to find sites on the subject so I thought I'd throw it out:
http://www.mtdaily.com/cgibin/mboard?board=/mb/msword

Hope I don't look totally stupid. But, that board helps me out big-time! I never post there, just lurk!

------------------
Visit In The Spotlight! (http://pub33.ezboard.com/binthespotlight)