Microsoft KB Archive/319153

= How to delete the Word Data registry key for Word 2002 =

PSS ID Number: 319153

Article Last Modified on 9/8/2004

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The information in this article applies to:


 * Microsoft Word 2002

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This article was previously published under Q319153





For a Microsoft Word 2003 version of this article, see 821713.



IN THIS TASK

 * SUMMARY
 * ** Delete the Word Data Registry Key



SUMMARY
This step-by-step article describes how to delete the Word Data key from the Windows Registry, to prevent the key from loading when you start Microsoft Word.

Most of the frequently used options are stored in the Word Data key. (Click Options on the Tools menu.) A common troubleshooting step is to delete the Word Data key. Word rebuilds this Data key by using the default settings the next time that you start the program.

NOTE: If you delete the Word Data key, Word resets several options back to their default settings, such as the most recently used file list on the File menu, plus many settings that you customize in the Options dialog box.

IMPORTANT: Do not use this procedure until after you read and finish the steps in the following article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

319299 How To Use the Troubleshoot Utility for Problems That Occur When You Start or Use Word 2002rt or Use Word 2002

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Delete the Word Data Registry Key
To delete the Word Data key, follow these steps:  Quit all Office programs. Click Start, point to Programs (in Microsoft Windows XP, point to All Programs), point to Microsoft Office Tools, and then click Word 2002 Support Template. In the Word 2002 Support Template, click Troubleshoot Utility. In the Microsoft Word Troubleshooting Utility dialog box, click Data Registry Key in the Select an Item list, and then click Delete. Click OK when you receive the following message:

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft Office\10.0\Word\Data

Backup file for this registry key is present at:

C:\WINDOWS\TEMP\wddata10.0

Registry key has been deleted.

 Click Close.</li> On the File menu, click Exit to quit Word.</li> Start Word the way that you usually do.

NOTE: Do not use the shortcut under Microsoft Office Tools (click Start and point to Programs).</li></ol>

If Word starts and works correctly, you resolved the problem. The problem was a damaged Data registry key. You may have to change a few settings to restore your favorite options in Word.

If the problem is not resolved, restore your old Data registry key. To do this, follow these steps: <ol> Quit all Office programs.</li> Click Start, point to Programs (in Windows XP, point to All Programs), point to Microsoft Office Tools, and then click Word 2002 Support Template.</li> In the Word 2002 Support Template, click Troubleshoot Utility.</li> In the Microsoft Word Troubleshooting Utility dialog box, click Data Registry Key in the Select an Item list, and then click Restore.</li> Click Yes when you receive the following message:

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Office\10.0\Word\Data

This key is present in the registry.

Overwrite it?

</li> Click OK when you receive the following message:

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Office\10.0\Word\Data

Registry key restoration successful.

</li> Click Close to close the Microsoft Word Troubleshooting Utility dialog box, and then quit Word.</li></ol>

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Keywords: kbRegistry kbHOWTOmaster kbhowto KB319153

Technology: kbWord2002 kbWord2002Search kbWordSearch

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