Make sure that you are not using Word as you email editor. To check this, go to TOOLS, OPTIONS, then MAIL FORMAT. Make sure the option for 'use word as your email editor' is not selected.

Just curiousity, is it necessary that you have Word removed? Outlook does like to run Word in the background at launch and it is difficult to run one without the other. There is no 'registry link' that directly exists between the two. Although, you are really on the right idea with that!

Give this a try and post back if you need another solution(s).