winword.exe

well, i took the icon that said "normal" and dragged it to the recycle bin and it said I could not do that. Also tried just hitting delete button. That command was denied also. If that is not "trying" to delete, I don't know what is.

To kill the normal.dot file may stress some, so here's a tool to make it a little easier so we don't have to learn about file attributes or to close Word before the delete...

MOVEONBOOT is noted on google.com and http://reviews.cnet.com/5208-6142-0.html?forumID=5&threadID=39656&messageID=464913&tag=

Bob

Let me get this straight. I go to the site you talked about, get the moveonboot thing, then I will be able to delete the normal file, restart and another uncorrupted normal file will be created and I will then be able to open Word? My computer does not like the looks of moveonboot- says it is "suspicious". I'm a touch stressed.

The normal.dot problem is widely noted. If we can't delete or at least rename it, then Word will continue to fail.

For your further reading...

1. Word will create a new normal.dot the next time you run Word.
2. http://support.microsoft.com/kb/820919
3. While you can rename that normal.dot file, I have yet to see anyone (or reason to) salvage a corrupted one.

Hope this helps,

Bob

Thanks for all you responses. There was another operation I could do that I didn't quite understand - but that solved (for now) the problem. The reason I couldn't trash the normal file was because it said it was in use, so that is why access was denied. So I hit the "control/alt delete" command and scrolled down and deleted winword. I was then able to delete the "normal" file and then open Word.