Annoying messages using WORD 97 under NT4

I am trying to use my WORD97 program on an old laptop with NT4. The program works ok except that I am bothered by option questions such as "The Normal template has changed. Do you want to save the changes?" that I get every time I Save a file. I don’t know why they keep popping up; I always say NO.

Can someone tell me what I can do to stop these messages? Thanks. "¦.wdc

 

With all programs closed, locate a file named Normal.dot and delete it. A new one will be created the next time you open Word.

Go to control panel, add/remove programs and do a repair of MS Office.

If the problem persists, post back.

 

Newt: Thanks for your help. But I could not find Normal.dot ! I looked using START\FIND\locate.dot. It doesn't seem to be there (but of course it is). Can you think what I am doing wrong? ... wdc

 

Normal.dot is a hidden file so first you must "un-hide" it. I'm not familiar with NT4 so I can't tell you how it's done in that operating system but in 98 and XP, it's in My Computer (or Windows Explorer)>Folder Options>View tab.

The search should then turn up normal.dot.

In Word 2000 (97 is probably similar), in Tools>Options>Save tab there is the option to "Prompt to save normal template." Uncheck that if it's there and the prompt shouldn't bother you again.

 

Some people find more comfort in nice thick security blankets with plenty of layers while others are happier with the thin ones. This option decision is one that must be made by the individual but....
Something to consider before disabling this prompt: (while this link references word 2000 the info is still the same for word97)

See and read from about the middle of this link down.....
http://www.liv.ac.uk/CSD/helpdesk/faqs/msoffice/macros.htm

Snippet from above:
How do I make Word more secure and Macro-Virus proof?

Select Tools | Options | Save and make sure that the option "Prompt to save Normal template" is selected (tick the box).

Click OK.
Click File | Exit to close Word
Before Word exits fully, Word will prompt the following:
“Changes have been made that affect the global template, Normal. Do you want to save those changes?â€
Answer YES to this prompt.
Prompting before making changes to Normal has now been added to the Word setup.

How does this prompt for changes work?
Infections of macro-viruses inside Word documents are avoided when the user says NO to the prompt "Changes have been made that affect the global template, Normal. Do you want to save those changes?"

Why is this more safe?
Macro-Viruses only cause the user problems if they are able to attach themselves to the Normal template (normal.dot).
It is often difficult to detect Macro-Viruses as they resemble normal Word macros in appearance.
By forcing Word to prompt, before it wants to make any changes to normal.dot, and by the user clicking NO when asked if they want to save any changes to normal.dot), this will ensure macro-viruses are not saved.

When can the user click YES to save changes to normal.dot?
When the user has made their own changes to the toolbar, added new keyboard shortcuts, saved their own word preferences or changed any of the options in the Tools | Options menu (as we did to force Word to prompt for changes to Normal); then they will need to answer YES to the prompt "Changes have been made that affect the global template, Normal. Do you want to save those changes?" for these changes to be saved.

===On the flip side in case you already have a problem===========
You are prompted to save the changes to global template Normal.dot every time you quit Word

http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;291352