Once you try delete/rename normal.dot, if problems persist, then next thing is to look for global templates, or COM Addins, that are cauing problems. User AutoText in the renamed file can later be copied back into the new normal.dot.

If you have many of these, and you do not want to lose them, rename normal.dot. If Excel does not start, repeat steps 1-7 until all add-ins are disabled.

If Excel starts without a problem, the issue is with the add-in you disabled. Restart the application, but do not use Safe mode. Uncheck one of the add-ins, and then click OK. Normal.dot contains (usually) all user input Autotext entries, and macros. Click Go next to the Manage list at the bottom of the menu. There may be other things going on that is causing problems, but deleting (or renaming) normal.dot is a first step. It will make a new, default set, normal.dot. Find them all, and delete them (or rename them - see below).

This is why it is best to do a full drive search for it. Deletion of normal.dot is a common first level troubleshooting technique.ĭepending on how the install was done, and depending on if your network 'pushes' a normal.dot to users, normal.dot can reside in a couple of locations. Every operation has the potential for errors, and so, with many many of them, it gets corrupted. to open word, (office 2003 xp pro with front page), I get the message- word failed to start correctly last time. The reason being is there are constant read and write operations to it. Therefore, if you delete it, Word automatically creates a new one, with all settings configured for its own defaults.Įven Microsoft states that normal.dot gets corrupted easily.

Word failed to launch in safe mode