Make a global template, and have it load on startup. That is, make a .dot file andput it in the Program Files / Office..../Startup folder. NOT the Documents and Settings/username.....Startup.
This loads the global template (similar to normal.dot) on Word loading.
If you OPEN the file itself (this is different from loading as a global), you can enter all the AutoText you want into it. All AutoText entries in a loaded global template are available to all documents.
In other words, you can put your AutoText into a separate template from normal.dot, have them global available (like normal.dot) but safely away from the issues of normal.dot corruption.
When making a new AutoText in the global, when you select some text for the AutoText, go:
Insert > AutoText > AutoText. Do NOT use:
Insert > AutoText > New.
New will put it in normal.dot. Click Autotext will open the AutoText dialog. Go down to the Look in: dropdown, and select the name of the global template. This will put the new AutoText in just the global. If it is really loaded as a global, it will be available....well, globally.
You can easily copy your existing AutoText from normal.dot (the default location) to your global template using the Organizer.
Tools > Templates and Add-Ins.
Click Organizer, and then click the AutoText tab.
Use one side to close the current file if necessary, then open your global template. Copy what ever AutoText entries you want.
Gerry