How to Rebuild User Preference and Options Settings (140097)


The information in this article applies to:

  • Microsoft Word for Windows NT 6.0
  • Microsoft Word for Windows 95
This article was previously published under Q140097


IMPORTANT: This article contains information about editing the registry. Before you edit the registry, you should first make a backup copy of the registry files (System.dat and User.dat). Both are hidden files in the Windows folder.

SUMMARY

Word 7.0 stores user preferences and option settings in the following Registry keys: 

   User Preferences
   ----------------


HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Word\7.0\Data 



   User Options
   ------------


HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Word\7.0\Options



Word 6.0 for Windows NT stores user preferences and option settings in the following Registry keys: 

   User Preferences
   ----------------


HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Word\6.0\Data 



   User Options
   ------------


HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Word\6.0\Options



This article describes how to rebuild the Word Data and Options Registry keys.

NOTE: Word for Windows version 6.0 uses the Winword.opt file, a binary file that contains user preference settings. In Word 6.0 you can rename the Winword.opt file to troubleshoot corrupt documents or other issues. Word 6.0 for Windows NT and 7.0 do not use a Winword.opt file.

For additional information, please see the following article(s) in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

WD: How to Ignore User Settings When You Start Word

MORE INFORMATION

WARNING: Using Registry Editor incorrectly can cause serious problems that may require you to reinstall Windows 95. Microsoft cannot guarantee that problems resulting from the incorrect use of Registry Editor can be solved. Use Registry Editor at your own risk.

For information about how to edit the registry, view the Changing Keys And Values online Help topic in Registry Editor (Regedit.exe). Note that you should make a backup copy of the registry files (System.dat and User.dat) before you edit the registry.

To rebuild the Word Data and Options Registry keys, do the following:

  1. Quit all applications.
  2. Click the Windows Start button, and then click Run.
  3. In the Open box, type "regedit" (without the quotation marks), and then click OK.
  4. Go to the following Registry key:
    Word 7.0:
    ---------
    User Preferences
    ----------------
    HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Word\7.0\Data
    NOTE: The Status Bar will display the following:
    My Computer\HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Word\7.0\Data
    User Options
    ------------
    HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Word\7.0\Options
    NOTE: The Status Bar will display the following:
    My Computer\HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Word\7.0\Options
    Word 6.0 for Windows NT:
    ---------
    User Preferences
    ----------------
    HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Word\6.0\Data
    NOTE: The Status Bar will display the following:
    My Computer\HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Word\6.0\Data
    User Options
    ------------
    HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Word\6.0\Options
    NOTE: The Status Bar will display the following:
    My Computer\HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Word\6.0\Options
  5. Click the Registry key to select it.
  6. On the Registry menu, click Export Registry File, type a file name, and then click Save.
  7. On the Edit menu, click Delete.
  8. Close the Registry.
NOTE: Repeat steps 4-7 to export and delete both keys, as necessary.

When you restart Word, new settings will be stored in the Data and Options registry keys.
Modification Type:MinorLast Reviewed:8/17/2005
Keywords:kbhowto kbtshoot kbusage KB140097
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