Member Avatar for grgreen

Hey all,

I know the first thing to suggest would be the normal.dot file, but I don't thin that is the problem. If it is, then simply replacing it with a non-corrupted version is not fixing the problem. Here's the problem:

When you open word 2003 (only under 1 user account) you get the message that there was an error and then you have to open in safe mode. Here is what I did to fix the problem, but only temporarily:

I ran the repair installation: didn't work
Uinstalled and reinstalled: didn't work
Replaced the normal.dot file: didn't work

Uninstalled Office 2003, installed 2000, replaced the normal.dot file at a couple different spots, reinstalled 2003: worked until the next time the user logged off/on.


Any other suggestions?

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  • Latest Post Latest Post by sittas87

Dani AI

Generated

This looks like a per‑user problem (only one Windows account is affected) rather than a global Office bug. Since already tried replacing Normal.dot and reinstalling, suggested the profile‑cleanup route and suggested a deeper uninstall, and posted the crash signature, focus on what lives in the user profile or is injected into Word at logon: user startup add‑ins, per‑user registry settings, login scripts/roaming profile sync, or an AV/third‑party shell/COM add‑in.

Quick, practical checks to run next:

  • Confirm with a fresh local user account (if not done): if Word is fine there the cause is definitely per‑user.
  • Launch Word bypassing templates/add‑ins: 
    winword.exe /a
winword.exe /safe

    While in that session, open Word’s Add‑ins/Templates dialog and disable every add‑in, then exit and try normal start.

  • Inspect and empty any Word Startup folders for that user (move suspicious .dot/.wll/.dll files out). Typical places to check:
    %USERPROFILE%\Application Data\Microsoft\Templates
%USERPROFILE%\Application Data\Microsoft\Word\STARTUP
(or on newer OS) %USERPROFILE%\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Word\STARTUP
C:\Program Files\Microsoft Office\Office11\STARTUP

If that doesn’t help, reset the user’s Word registry settings (backup first): export the key then delete or rename

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Office\11.0\Word

Word will recreate defaults on next start. Also verify the user can write to their %TEMP% and profile folders and check any login scripts/roaming profile or sync software that might be copying back a bad template at logon.

For advanced diagnosis, capture file/registry activity during startup with Procmon and review the Application event log around the crash time. The crash signature posted (winword.exe as faulting module) often indicates in‑process code (an add‑in or corrupt user settings), so the above per‑user checks are the highest‑yield steps before reimaging or migrating the user to a new profile.

Recommended Answers

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Member Avatar for HoustonIT

Have you tried the User Profile Hive Cleanup service?

Member Avatar for mganus

Has anyone figured this out? I have used the User Profile Hive Cleanup and the problem still exists. This is the error signature:

AppName: winword.exe AppVer: 11.0.8215.0 AppStamp:48000d55
ModName: winword.exe ModVer: 11.0.8215.0 ModStamp:48000d55
fDebug: 0 Offset: 008dd84c

Member Avatar for grgreen

Unfortunately, I still have not figured this out. Next week I am actually going to go in and reimage the user's machine. Probably overkill, but I can't figure out anything else that will fix it.

Member Avatar for sittas87

install REVOUNINSTALLER and remove office via this uninstall program.it will allow you to delete the registry of this files(stated in bold). go to the location where files was installed unhide all hidden files and delete.now install fresh copy of office 2003
Revo is the far better than the win add\remove programs i use it all the time
??

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