Thanks for the hint computerpilot

: Sorry to hear you had to reformat! An office reinstall would have put winfax back on.

: Good luck!

: First off, do you have multiple login accounts set up on your computer? It is unusual for WIN98 to be set up like this but I have to ask. The inability to delete the Normal.dot template may be due to the fact that it is in another user directory.

: Also, are you networked? Do you store personalized templates in another location of your hard drive or network? It is possible that this would also create the access denied message. You can check out the location of stored files by clicking Tools, Options, then the File Locations tab.

: Make sure that you are COMPLETELY OUT of all Office 2000 applications. Shut down the toolbar, Outlook, Excel, Access, and all others. You can also click Control-Alt-Del to see if any other office 2000 appliations are running or related files.

: Have you tried to delete the file in safe mode? I would try this (F8 during boot).

: Can you start the computer in DOS and manually delete the Normal.dot template? Again F8 at boot will give you this option.

: There are several other possiblities of things that could be causing the error message. However, I agree with your assessment regarding the Normal.dot file because if you are not able to gain access to the file, there is a chance that Word is also having the same problem (YES, the System must be able to access the file as well. It may be dealing with the same error message when it tries to open it).

: Winfax 10.02 can also cause this error message. If you have this installed:

: http://service2.symantec.com/SUPPORT/faxprod.nsf/docid/2001091914422504?OpenDocument&src=hot&prod=WinFax+PRO&ver=10.0+for+Windows+95/98/Me/NT/2000&stg=2&base=http://www.symantec.com/techsupp/winfax/&next=winfax10_search_solve_error.html&sone=winfax10_tasks.html&tpre=

: Extensive macros (VBA) in Word (menus, toolbars) can also create a similar error message if the subroutines are not properly written and debugged. If you have no idea what I am talking about, then disregard this as a possilbilty.

: Please post back after you have tried a few of my suggestions. I would be happy to offer more ideas.

: Computerpilot

Good luck!

Also, are you networked? Do you store personalized templates in another location of your hard drive or network? It is possible that this would also create the access denied message. You can check out the location of stored files by clicking Tools, Options, then the File Locations tab.

Make sure that you are COMPLETELY OUT of all Office 2000 applications. Shut down the toolbar, Outlook, Excel, Access, and all others. You can also click Control-Alt-Del to see if any other office 2000 appliations are running or related files.

Have you tried to delete the file in safe mode? I would try this (F8 during boot).

Can you start the computer in DOS and manually delete the Normal.dot template? Again F8 at boot will give you this option.

There are several other possiblities of things that could be causing the error message. However, I agree with your assessment regarding the Normal.dot file because if you are not able to gain access to the file, there is a chance that Word is also having the same problem (YES, the System must be able to access the file as well. It may be dealing with the same error message when it tries to open it).

Winfax 10.02 can also cause this error message. If you have this installed:

http://service2.symantec.com/SUPPORT/faxprod.nsf/docid/2001091914422504?OpenDocument&src=hot&prod=WinFax+PRO&ver=10.0+for+Windows+95/98/Me/NT/2000&stg=2&base=http://www.symantec.com/techsupp/winfax/&next=winfax10_search_solve_error.html&sone=winfax10_tasks.html&tpre=

Extensive macros (VBA) in Word (menus, toolbars) can also create a similar error message if the subroutines are not properly written and debugged. If you have no idea what I am talking about, then disregard this as a possilbilty.

Please post back after you have tried a few of my suggestions. I would be happy to offer more ideas.

Computerpilot