MS KB Article Q211793:
SUMMARY
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This article describes various methods for resetting user options and registry settings in Microsoft Word.
MORE INFORMATION
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There are two basic kinds of options that a user can define in Word. The first kind affects the way the program operates. The information for this kind of option is usually stored in the Windows registry. The second kind of option affects the formatting or appearance of one or more documents. The information for this option is stored in templates or documents.
When you troubleshoot odd behavior in the program or in a document, first eliminate the possibility that the problem is caused by a combination of options and formatting. If the behavior in question occurs in multiple documents, it may be useful to reset the user settings to the "factory" defaults either temporarily or permanently. To do this, use one of the methods listed in the following table.
Method Result
Hold SHIFT to prevent automatic macros from starting. Temporary
Start Word with the /a switch. Temporary
Rename the Normal template. Temporary or
Permanent
Run Detect and Repair. Permanent
Edit or delete registry entries. Permanent