Sorry this is a bit short but only just come across the thread and now I simply just must go to bed, so in the mean time is this any help to you.
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Faulty normal.dot file in Windows XP
The file called “normal.dot” is the default file used by MS Word when MS Word first opens.
To replace a faulty “normal.dot” file:
One option is to re-name or delete the file called “normal.dot”
MS Word will automatically re-create a "NEW" file with the same name but without any alterations that may have happened before.
First of all you need to select Show hidden files and folders
From the “Tools” menu in My Computer, select:
“Tools”, followed by, “Folder options”, then “View”, and then select, “Show hidden files and folders”
The “normal.dot” file can then be found in:
C:\Documents and Settings\YOUR NAME HERE\Application Data\Microsoft\Templates\normal.dot
Replace "YOUR NAME HERE" with the name of your default folder.
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Or
Open a good file, then select "save as" (any name will do).
Now delete any text in this new file and save, then close word completely.
Go to where the normal.dot file is stored and re-name to “normal.old”.
Now move your new saved file into this same folder and re-name it to “normal.dot”
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The normal.dot file is a system/hidden file so you will also have to change that setting before doing anythin.
Otherwise when you look at the toolbar in Word, look for the icon that looks like a book with 2 pages, if you click that it will open giving you more options, but you really need to delete the original default file if you don't know how to open the default file then save it the way you want, as in the example above.