fireberd is on the right track. The file for Word 2007 is normal.dotm. You can find it easily by choosing Windows Key-R then typing the following:

 

%userprofile%\application data\microsoft\templates

 

You'll see the normal.dotx file and you can raname or delete it. If you ever use macros in Word 2007, you will find a normal.dotm file.

 

If this does not solve your problem, you can try re-associating any Word file. Right click any existing Word file (in Windows Explorer) and choose Open With. Select Word and place a check in the "always use the selected program..."

Do a search on your PC, including hidden files, for the "normal.doc" file and delete all copies that you find.  The next time you start MS Word it will create a new normal.doc file.  This seems to fix a lot of MS Word startup problems.  The normal.doc file is the normal blank template that MS Word opens with.

I would disable or uninstall the recent plugin to see if that's causing the problem.

Vista Ultimate SP 3 ???

Thanks for the advice. Deleted the Normal file with no results. Continue not to be able to access the documents properly.  Word also has trouble shutting down each time.

 

I would uninstall the plug in, but not sure how.  The Add\Remove programs icon seems to be missing in the control panel on Vista.  Gotta love Vista.

 

Thoughts. Anyone?

You could try the System Restore and restore the PC to a date PRIOR to installing the add-on and see if that fixes it (assuming everything was working OK before the plug in was installed). 

 

Apparently you have the Control Panel set for the Classic View.  Click "Control Panel Home" and it will take it back to the new Vista "mode".  You can find the "Uninstall a Program" under the "Programs".  My system doesn't have an icon in the Classic View either. 

 

BTW, as noted "SP3"?? there is no SP3 for Vista.

Hold down control while left clicking the icon for word and keep holding control while it opens. There should be a prompt asking if you want to start word in safe mode.

 

If it opens in safe mode all good, go to the button on the top left corner click it and go to word options and then go to addins and disable all add ons until your problem goes away.

 

If it does not start in safe mode press the windows button and e this should open up my computer, uninstall or change a program should be on the top right of this window.

 

Go there and then locate microsoft office and go to change and then to repair or uninstall and reinstall.

Thanks.  Great info.  I learned a couple of things.  Anything below the line (below advanced) I am unable to access. I click on add-ins, but nothing.

On add ins there should be at the bottom left

 

Manage [COM Add ins] Go

 

click the go button and then change the [COM Add ins] to word add ins and all the others in the list respectively.