Delete the Word Data registry key
Most of the frequently used options in Word are stored in the Word Data registry key. A common troubleshooting step is to delete the Word Data registry key. The next time that you start Word, Word rebuilds the Word Data registry key by using the default settings.
To view these options in Word 2002 or Word 2003, click Options on the Tools menu.
To view these options in Word 2007, click the Microsoft Office Button, and then click Word Options.
Note When you delete the Word Data registry key, Word resets several options to their default settings. One such option is the "most recently used file" list on the File menu. Additionally, Word resets many settings that you customize in the Options dialog box.
To delete the Word Data registry key, follow these steps: 1.Exit all Office programs.2.Click Start, click Run, type regedit, and then click OK.3.Locate the following registry subkey, as appropriate for the version of Word that you are running:
•Word 2002: HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft Office\10.0\Word\Data
•Word 2003: HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft Office\11.0\Word\Data
•Word 2007: HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft Office\12.0\Word\Data
4.Click Data, and then click Export on the File menu.
5.Name the file Wddata.reg, and then save the file to the desktop.
6.Click Delete on the Edit menu, and then click Yes.
7.Exit Registry Editor.8.Start Word. If Word starts and works correctly, you have resolved the problem. The problem was a damaged Word Data registry key. You may have to change several settings to restore your favorite options in Word.
If the problem is not resolved, restore the original Word Data registry key. Then, see the "Delete the Word Options registry key" topic.
To restore the original Word Data registry key, follow these steps:
1.Exit all Office programs.
2.Double-click the Wddata.reg icon on the desktop.
3.Click Yes, and then click OK.
Delete the Word Options registry key
The Word Options registry key stores those options that you can set in Word by changing menu options. The settings are divided into default settings and optional settings.
Default settings are created during Setup. You can change the default settings by changing options in Word. Optional settings are not created during Setup.
To delete the Word Options registry key, follow these steps:
1.Exit all Office programs.
2.Click Start, click Run, type regedit, and then click OK.3.Locate the following registry subkey, as appropriate for the version of Word that you are running:
•Word 2002: HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft Office\10.0\Word\Options
•Word 2003: HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft Office\11.0\Word\Options
•Word 2007: HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft Office\12.0\Word\Options
4.Click Options, and then click Export on the File menu.
5.Name the file Wdoptn.reg, and then save the file to the desktop.
6.Click Delete on the Edit menu, and then click Yes.
7.Exit Registry Editor.
8.Start Word. If Word starts and works correctly, you have resolved the problem. The problem was a damaged Word Options registry key. You may have to change several settings to restore your favorite options in Word.
If the problem is not resolved, restore the original Word Options registry key. Then, see the "Rename the Normal.dot or Normal.dotm global template file" topic.
To restore the original Word Options registry key, follow these steps:
1.Exit all Office programs.
2.Double-click the Wdoptn.reg icon on your desktop.
3.Click Yes, and then click OK.