BEFORE: you attempt to fix any document, ask if there’s a backup! Even if you “successfully” repair a document, you’ll never be 100% “sure” the document it OK. I’d rather spend time retrieving a backed up document, as opposed to the unknown outcome of a repair.

REPAIR: First backup the document, then force Word to Repair the Document (KB893672)

1. From the File menu, click Open and locate the file you want to recover.
2. On the Open button, scroll down and select Open and Repair

RECOVER: Microsoft’s next solution is to try opening the document using WordPad. Finally, Microsoft recommends recovering the text using a feature  for Word 2000 and Word 2002/2003  called "recovery" (but you’ll lose your formatting). 

1. From the File menu, click Open and locate the file you want to recover.
2. In the Files of type box, scroll down and click Recover Text from Any File (*.*)
3. Click on Open

3RD PARTY UTILITIES: If this document MUST be salvaged – there are many 3rd Party recovery programs found here on Google.

 

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QUICK CHECK: Disable Automatic Macros run when Word is started.

1. Hold the SHIFT key down when you run Word to disable running the auto macros.
2. If Word launched OK without the auto macros, you’ll need to determine which one is the culprit.
3. From the Tools pull-down menu, select Macro, then click Macros
4. You’ll see a list of macros – some starting with “Auto” (i.e. AutoExec, AutoNew, AutoOpen, AutoClose, or AutoExit).
5. Choose “one” of the auto macros and either edit the macro (if you’re a geek) or simply delete it.
6. Exit Word
7. Run Word (without the SHIFT key)
8. If Word launches you’re done. If not, return to Step #1
   
   

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QUICK CHECK Disable startup parameters when Word is started (COM Add-Ins, Preferences, Customizations, and Macros)

1. From the Start menu select Run
2. In the Open box, type winword /a
3. Click OK and “attempt” to run Word

If Word DOES successfully launch – we’ll need to isolate which component is creating the problem. If not, jump to the next section of this article.

Word 2000 Users - Sorry there’s no “Road to Know Where” help here – you’ve got to follow these instructions at  KB259413  (NOTE: Lots of registry hacks.)

 

 

Install the Word 2002/2003 Support Template 

• If this is a complete installation of Word, the Word Support Template may already be present. Search for the file “SUPPORT.DOT” and write down its location.
  
• Install the Word Support Template from your Microsoft Office CD [Note Click the plus-sign (+) to the left of the feature to expand it.]

1. From the Control Panel, select Add or Remove Programs.
2. Click Change or Remove Programs.
3. In the Currently installed programs list, click your version of Office and then click Change.
4. Click Add or Remove Features, and click Next.
5. In Custom Setup, select Choose advanced customization of applications check box, and click Next.
6. In the Choose update options for applications and tools
7. Expand Microsoft Office Word, then Wizards and Templates.
8. Click the icon for More Templates and Macros, and then click Run all from my computer
9. Click Update to install the Word Support Template

• Download the Word 2002/2003 Support Template from Microsoft – the program will extract the file quicker than you can probably find your Microsoft Office 2002 CD.

 
Running the Word Support Template  KB289506 suggests making a shortcut for this – but why? I hope we don’t need to continually troubleshoot this!

1) From the Start menu select Run

2) In the Open box, cut-n-paste (including quotes) either:

Word 2002  "C:\Program Files\Microsoft Office\Office10\Winword.exe" /a "C:\Program Files\Microsoft Office\Office10\Macros\Support.dot"

 

Word 2003  "C:\Program Files\Microsoft Office\Office11\Winword.exe" /a "C:\Program Files\Microsoft Office\Office11\Macros\Support.dot"

 

NOTE: You may need to make changes due to non-standard folder locations. You must include the “/a” in-between the two statements.

3) Click OK to run Word with the Support Template

Test 1 -- Delete Data Registry Key 

1. Run the Word Support Template (see above)
2. Click on Troubleshoot Utility button
3. In the Microsoft Word Troubleshooting Utility dialog box, in the Select an Item list, click Data Registry Key, and then click Delete.
4. Click OK then Close
5. Exit Word and rerun Word “normally”
6. If this works, you’ve resolved the problem (some settings may have been lost) – else follow the last four steps again changing Step #3’s Delete to Restore

 

Test 2 -- Rename NORMAL.DOT

1. Run the Word Support Template (see above)
2. Click on Troubleshoot Utility button
3. In the Microsoft Word Troubleshooting Utility dialog box, in the Select an Item list, click Normal.dot Global Template and then click Rename.
4. Click OK then Close
5. Exit Word and rerun Word “normally”
6. If this works, you’ve resolved the problem (some settings may have been lost) – else follow the last four steps again changing Step #3’s Rename to Restore

Test 3 -- Disable Startup Folder Add-Ins 

1. Run the Word Support Template (see above)
2. Click on Troubleshoot Utility button
3. In the Microsoft Word Troubleshooting Utility dialog box, in the Select an Item list, click Word Startup Folder Add-Ins and then click Rename.
4. Click OK then Close (if no Add-Ins are found, skip to Test #4)
5. Exit Word and rerun Word “normally”
6. If this works, you’ve determined there’s a problem requiring further research to delete the specific startup-folder ann-in -- else follow the last four steps again changing step #3’s Rename to Restore

Test 4 -- Disable COM Add-Ins

1. Run the Word Support Template (see above)
2. Click on Troubleshoot Utility button
3. In the Microsoft Word Troubleshooting Utility dialog box, in the Select an Item list, click COM-Adding Registry Key and then click Delete.
4. Click OK then Close
5. Exit Word and rerun Word “normally”
6. If this works, you’ve determined there’s a problem requiring further research to delete the specific COM Add-in -- else follow the last four steps again changing step #3’s Rename to Restore

NOTE:  From the Tools menu, select Customize, then click Commands tab. In the Categories list click Tools. Drag COM Add-Ins to a toolbar. One by one, you can determine the defective COM Add-in.

 

Test 5 -- Delete Options Registry Key 

1. Run the Word Support Template (see above)
2. Click on Troubleshoot Utility button
3. In the Microsoft Word Troubleshooting Utility dialog box, in the Select an Item list, click Options Registry Key and then click Delete.
4. Click OK then Close
5. Exit Word and rerun Word “normally”
6. If this works, you’ve resolved the problem (some setting may have been lost) -- else follow the last four steps again changing step #3’s Delete to Restore
   
   

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Method 1 – From within Word’s Help pull-down menu, select Detect and Repair, followed by Start. (Say yes to Restore my shortcuts while repairing).

 

Method 2 – From the Control Panel’s Add or Remove Programs select Microsoft Office, followed by Change. From the setup program select Repair, followed by Detect and Repair errors in my Office installation, then click Install. (Say yes to Restore my shortcuts while repairing).