Hi, I my problem started with the Normal.dot becoming corrupted in Word 97 I now get a lot of what looks like template info that should be hidden at least a page stating fonts path etc also none of my formating is now kept all documents look like a text file in note pad. After reinstalling over the top did not work and then totally deleting Office 97 and putting it back on did not work, out of desperation, I tried a restore from Dos of the registry. I went back 1 day to before the corruption happened. But alas it did not work even files I had created that day were still their? So I went back in and tried the day previous still no luck it was still corrupted and the files that I created this morning should have been gone are also still their. I thought the registry only backs up once a day even if you do restart more that that. I do not know what to do now! All my documents open corrupted I know it is not a virus as I have the latest updates with Norton 2001 I just updated a week ago. Also I noticed my registry only keeps backUps for 3 days or as it looks like 3 start ups [I would like to know how to increase this I have read it before but not sure where]. With all the probs I have been having with the Normal.dot I have probably restarted 4 or 5 times today. I also removed find fast from my start up file this morning and that was still removed should't it have gone back into start up with the registy restore? Can anyone help I am now desparate. Kaz

Check your email. I have sent you a copy of an uncorrupted normal.dot Hopefully this will help you out. If not, sorry I am unable to help.

If it is really a corrupted NORMAL.dot, the easy way is just to delete it, and restart Word. It will be recreated. As for the registry restores. The things that get restored with Scanreg /Restore are System.dat & User.dat (the registry) and System.ini and Win.ini. There are no file restorations/deletions/etc happening. What was there before will be there afterwards. That is why you should not do a restore if you have installed anything new, since after the restore, windows will not know about it. (even though the files are on the harddrive).