Hi,



Strange problem I have run into - everytime I open Word 2010 (32bit) from my desktop or the start menu, it opens the normal.dotm file. If I click on an existing word document via Windows explorer or I open an email attachment, it opens that document fine but still opens a second instance with the normal.dotm file.

Is there any way to stop this?

Thanks for the help!

I am not sure this will cure it but...

Go to FILE / OPTIONS / SAVE then click on "Save files in this format:" and make sure it is set to "Word Document (*.docx)".

Hope this helps...

Are you saying that you have a Word screen with the title in the title bar Normal.dotm? If you typed something in your screen and saved, it would show up in all your new documents?

To some extent, Word opens the normal template whenever it is open. A file lock will be placed on it and it is available for some editing through saving defaults or AutoText/AutoCorrect, however, it is not "open" in the ordinary sense.

Yes, an actual Word screen with the title "Normal.Dotm"

If I open Word directly, that's the only window that opens - in the title bar it actually says "Normal.dotm"

Appreciate the responses. JimP, I did try your suggestion but no luck.

OK.

Diagnostic 1: Start Word in Safe mode.
Do you have the same problem? If "yes" I don't have a solution, yet.
If no...

Diagnostic 2: Close Word and rename the normal.dotm template.
Normal Template in Microsoft Word - How to Find or Open the Normal Template
Same problem? If no, the problem is in your normal.dotm template. Otherwise, if yes, close Word and rename your old normal.dotm file back.

If no problem in Safe mode and renaming normal.dotm doesn't cure it, you probably have a very poorly written Add-In. Add-Ins in Microsoft Word

Charles - thank you so much. It was one of the Add-Ins. Didn't even think of that, but it's resolved now

Was tearing my hair out trying to solve this thing as I'd already renamed the normal.dotm file before. Nice that it was an easy solution.

Thanks again - really appreciated!

You are welcome.

I would have mentioned that at first, but I couldn't imagine an Add-In that would do that! Why? But a large percentage of problems people have with Word acting strangely originate in Add-Ins. If you know which one did it to you, could you post the name here?

Hi Charles,

Was just a custom add-in created by our corporate IT at work so nothing that'd be applicable to others. Weird situation but I'm glad you helped find a solution