Emi,

First item to address is the number of AutoText entries you have. They are stored in the normal.dot and, if you have a good number of them (more than, let's say, 40) then your normal.dot template is using a lot of memory to load these when Word starts.

Also, many users on this forum are under the impression that deleting the normal.dot will create a new normal.dot when Word is restarted. This is partially true. Word will recreate the normal.dot but load your preferences as well. MS KB article 290232

if the global template (Normal.dot) does not exist in Microsoft Word with which to create a blank document, Word uses its internally stored settings to create a new blank document.

These internally settings are kept in Windows registry. When does Word create a new normal.dot? You have to make a change to it, then Word creates a new one. Check MS KB article 291291 for an example of setting the default font. You'll notice the line that states

When you are prompted with the following message, click Yes.
Do you want to change the default font to font name?
This change will affect all new documents based on the NORMAL template.
While holding the SHIFT key, click Save All on the File menu.

This will save the normal.dot template.

So, first - How many AutoTexts do you have? Second, to replace the normal.dot you delete it, then restart Word and save the default font ( or change the default margins ). As a better word or advice, just rename the normal.dot to normal.old. This way, you can copy any macros, AutoTexts, etc from your normal.old to your normal.dot using Tools, Templates and Add-ins, Options..

Here's more you should check for: Click Start, Run, type %temp% (with the percent signs) and delete as many files as you're able to from this temporary folder. Also, defrag your hard drive. Do a file search (with Word not running) for all files that begin with a tilde (~) and delete them. They are temporary files left over from a bad instance of Word.

Concerning the message about the autocorrect problem. Apparently, one or more entries are corrupt in your autocorrect file. This is a file that ends in .acl and can be found by doing a search. You'll find at least two - one that comes with Office, and one with your login name. Just copy the one with your login name.

Hope this helps....

Thanks Allan.

I won't be able to try out some of your suggestions until I get home tonight to my computer, but I can answer a couple of your questions. 

First, I have a TON of autocorrects in there I probably average adding in 10 a day.  I have a similar amount of them on the computer at work that is running Word 2000 on a Dell and have absolutely no problems with it ever.  I have never had troubles before with them even on other computers with older systems.

I regularly take out the files in Word that have the ~ but not sure if there might be some elsewhere, I'll look.  So, normally I never have more than 7-10 even if it has been freezing up on me all night.

I defrag every week and chkdsk about every 2 weeks since I can't seem to schedule that one.  Also, this problem has been going on since before my Word had "anything" on it added by me...really since the beginning of using it on this current system.

Also, I forgot to mention that I do have all the current updates and I went through all the steps outlined on the Microsoft website regarding if Word does not run properly and nothing helped.

I asked a computer literate friend of mine if he thought loading in Word 2003 would help solve my problem.  He said that he would rather fix it first because the problem just might move over to the 2003.  (However he hasn't had time to come over). 

Thanks again for the help and I'll let you know if any of your suggests helps.

Emi

Update:  I had hundreds of documents with the ~ and deleted as many as I could though some it wouldn't let me.  I cannot figure out how to take out the "damaged" part of my autocorrect file, but I did copy the one in there and pasted it to my backup file, so at least I have a backup even if it is a damaged one.  I did what you suggested about the font default after deleted all the normal.dots. 

It still froze up on me last night.  I think it is less often, and the recovery process definately took a LOT less time and therefore less lost revenue.  I also didn't lose anything last night.  So, it did help.

I'm gone until Monday the 31st, so I'll check back then.

Thanks,

Emi

 

Emi,

Let me know how you make out.

Well, my friend is supposed to come on the 13th.  Nothing has worked so far.  It still freezes up on me maybe 3 to 7 times in an hour.  Very frustrating.

Thank you for your help.

Emi