Seems like you changed the pointers in Control Panel, Mouse.

Hello Allan Bach.

 

Thanks for your quick response.

 

Actually, a few minutes after I posted my query--and 5 days after trying to no avail to find the solution--I found the solution.

 

I went into Control Panel/Accessibility Options/Display.  At the bottom of the window is a slider from Narrow to Wide for the cursor.  I simply slid the slider back to Narrow and now everything is the same as it was before my curiosity go the better of me.

 

Thanks again,

 

Squirrelly

 

 

As Microsoft keeps moving Windows 10's settings from one place to another—just to keep us on our toes, no doubt—I thought I'd post an updated reply.

As of Windows 10 version 21H1 (Aug. 2021), here's the method for changing the cursor's size system-wide:

1. On the Start Menu, click Settings.

2. In the window that appears, type "cursor" (without the quotes); then in the results that appear, click "Change cursor thickness". The "Text Cursor" window appears.

3. Scroll down to the "Change the text cursor appearance" section. ("Text cursor" seems redundant to me, BTW, but go figure.) As you move the slider an example of the cursor's new thickness appears at the left.

4. When you're done, close the window. (Apparently Microsoft no longer feels we need "OK" or "Cancel" buttons.)

Unfortunately—on my system, at least—this has no effect on the cursor in Word 2003. And, as far as I can tell, Word has no native cursor-size option. (What's the alternative though? "Upgrading" to MS's ludicrous "ribbon" menus? No thanks!)

Maybe you'll be luckier than I was, and it will work on your system... Hope so!