Hi tinfanide,
FWIW, there were additional steps that could have been taken before resorting to a system reinstallation. See, for example:
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/921541,
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/925175
http://word.mvps.org/FAQs/AppErrors/...artingWord.htm
That said, I'll admit it is possible the problem was a more deep-seated Windows one that could only be solved by working on the OS itself.
Glad you've got it sorted.