To prevent formatting changes, AutoText entries, and macros that are stored in the global template (Normalm.dot or Normal.dot) from affecting the behavior of Word and documents that are opened, rename your global template (Normal.dotm or Normal.dot). Renaming the template lets you quickly determine whether the global template is causing the issue.

When you rename the Normal.dotm template in Word 2007 or the Normal.dot template in Word 2003 and in earlier versions of Word, you reset several options to the default settings. These include custom styles, custom toolbars, macros, and AutoText entries. We strongly recommend that you rename the template instead of deleting the Normal.dotm template or the Normal.dot template. If you determine that the template is the issue, you will be able to copy the custom styles, custom toolbars, macros, and AutoText entries from the Normal.dot template that was renamed.

Certain types of configurations may create more than one Normal.dotm template or Normal.dot template. These situations include cases where multiple versions of Word are running on the same computer or cases where several workstation installations exist on the same computer. In these situations, make sure that you rename the correct copy of the template.

Rename the Normal.dotm template or the Normal.dot template in Windows XP and in Windows Server 2003

1. Quit all instances of Word, including Microsoft Outlook if Word is set as your e-mail editor.

2. Click Start, and then click Search.

3. In the Search Results dialog box, under What do you want to search for, click All files and folders.

4. In the All or part of the file name box, type "Normal.dot" (without the quotes).  

5. In the Look in box, select your local hard disk. (Or, select an alternate user template location if you are running Word from a network server.)

6. Click Search to search for the file.

7. For each occurrence of Normal.dot that appears in the Search Results dialog box, right-click the file and then click Rename.
Type a new name for the file, such as OldNormal.dot or Normal-1.dot, and then press ENTER.

8. On the File menu, click Close to quit the Search program.

Rename the Normal.dot template in Windows 2000

1. Quit all instances of Word, including Microsoft Outlook if Word is set as your e-mail editor.

2. Click Start, point to Search, and then click For Files or Folders.

3. In the Search for files or folders named box, type Normal.dot.

4. In the Look in box, select your local hard disk. (Or, select an alternate user template location if you are running Word from a network server.)

5. Click Search Now to search for the file.

6. For each occurrence of Normal.dot that appears in the Search Results dialog box, right-click the file, and then click Rename.
Give the file a new name, such as OldNormal.dot or Normal-1.dot, and then press ENTER.

7. On the File menu, click Close to quit the Search program.

 

When you restart Word, a new global template (Normal.dot) is created that contains the Word default settings.