Microsoft KB Archive/291487

= Description of the startup &quot;/a&quot; switch in Word 2002 =

PSS ID Number: 291487

Article Last Modified on 9/9/2004

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The information in this article applies to:


 * Microsoft Word 2002

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This article was previously published under Q291487



For a Microsoft Word 2000 version of this article, see 244843.



SUMMARY
This article describes what the /a switch is, what it does, and how to use it.



What Is the /a Switch?
The /a switch is a troubleshooting tool that you can use to determine where a problem may exist when you are working with Microsoft Word. When you use the /a switch to start Word, the switch prevents add-ins and global templates from being loaded automatically. The /a switch also locks the setting files; that is, the setting files cannot be read or modified when you use this switch.

NOTE: Microsoft does not recommend that you use the /a switch as a typical operating startup switch. This switch prevents your preferred settings in Word from being retained. Use the /a switch only when a Microsoft Support Professional requests that you do so, or when you must troubleshoot Word to determine where a problem may exist.

What Specifically Does the /a Switch Bypass or Lock?
NOTE: The paths mentioned in the following list are the default locations and may be different on your system.

The /a switch starts Microsoft Word, bypassing or locking the following:  The global template (Normal.dot), which is located in the following folder:  In Microsoft Windows 98 or Microsoft Windows Millennium Edition (Me):

C:\WINDOWS\Application Data\Microsoft\Templates

-or- In Windows 98 or Windows Me with profiles enabled, or Microsoft Windows NT 4.0:

C:\WINDOWS\Profiles\ \Application Data\Microsoft\Templates

-or- In Microsoft Windows 2000 or Microsoft Windows XP:

C:\Documents and Settings\ \Application Data\Microsoft\Templates

  Templates and files located in the following startup folder:  In Windows 98 or Windows NT 4.0:

C:\Program Files\Microsoft Office\Office10\Startup

-or-</li> In Windows Me, Windows 2000, or Windows XP:

C:\Windows\Application Data\Microsoft\Word\Startup

</li></ul> </li> Files that were added as global templates or add-ins. These files can be located when you click Templates and Add-ins on the Tools menu in Word.</li> COM add-ins.For additional information, click the article number below to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

319719 WD2002: How to Identify COM Add-ins in Word 2002

</li> The Word Data key in the Windows Registry at the following location:

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

</li> The Word Options key in the Windows Registry at the following location:

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Office\10.0\Word\Options

</li> Your currently selected Microsoft Office Assistant, whose settings are located at the following Windows Registry location:

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Office\10\Common\Assistant

</li></ul>

For additional information about a known problem with some settings that are reset to their default when you use the /a switch, click the article number below to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

243966 WD2000: Starting Word with the &quot; /a&quot; Switch Resets Some Word Options

How to Use the /a Switch
To start Word by using /a, follow these steps: <ol> Click Start and then click Run.</li> In the Run dialog box, click Browse.</li> In the Browse dialog box, click Winword.exe and then click Open.

NOTE: To locate the Winword.exe file, change the Look in box to the following folder:

C:\Program Files\Microsoft Office\Office10

NOTE: The Winword.exe file may be located in a different folder on your system.

</li> : The Winword.exe file may be located in a different folder on your system.In the Run dialog box, the Open box contains a path similar to the following:

&quot;C:\Program Files\Microsoft Office\Office10\Winword.exe&quot;

</li> : The Winword.exe file may be located in a different folder on your system.Click in the Open box, and move the insertion point to after the quotation marks at the end of the path statement.</li> : The Winword.exe file may be located in a different folder on your system.Type a space and then type /a. The path statement now looks similar to the following:

&quot;C:\Program Files\Microsoft Office\Office10\Winword.exe&quot; /a

NOTE: You must type the /a switch outside the quotation marks. If you type the /a switch inside the quotation marks, you receive an error message similar to one of the following when you try to run the command:

Cannot find the file 'C:\Program Files\Microsoft Office\Office10\Winword.exe /a' (or one of its components). Make sure the path and filename are correct and that all required libraries are available.

-or-

Windows cannot find 'C:\Program Files\Microsoft Office\Office10\Winword.exe /a'. Make sure you typed the name correctly, and then try again. To search for a file, click the Start button, and then click Search.

</li> : The Winword.exe file may be located in a different folder on your system.Click OK to start Word with the /a switch.</li></ol>

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