How do you know if the global template (normal.dot) in Word may be corrupt? Chances are Word will crash or freeze when you attempt to launch it or it may not launch at all.

To determine if the global template is corrupt, complete the following steps:

1. Click the Start button and then click Run.
2. In the Run box, type ‘winword.exe /a’. Be sure to include a space before the ‘a’.

If Word launches, the global template is likely corrupt and you will need to create a new one. Fortunately, you do not need to reinstall Word. Instead, you can create a new Normal.dot template using the steps outlined below.

1. If Word is still open from the previous steps, close the application.
2. Search your computer for the Normal.dot template.
3. Either rename or delete the file.
4. Launch Word.

When you launch Word, it will look for the template. If it cannot locate it, Word will automatically create a new one.