Microsoft Office programs have gone haywire!

mkbk · 12-17-2006, 10:52 AM

My computer's gone wacky. Here are some screens:

As you can see, the right click menus and other menus appear clear. This also happens with all of my other Microsoft Office programs. Clicking in the clear area does nothing. This is also the case with my start menu. Once I go into the programs menu, it's like that.

I've reinstalled Microsoft Office, used the repairing option, ran my anti-virus softwares, deleted all harmful programs, restarted my computer, etc. I'm thinking it's a problem with my computer and not just the Microsoft programs since the situation occurs on the start menu and some other spots as well.

Help please? I've got some work to do except the clear menus make it impossible.

Geekgirl · 12-17-2006, 12:54 PM

Try renaming the Normal.dot file, follow these steps:

1. Quit all instances of Word, including WordMail.
2. On the Windows taskbar, click Start, point to Find, and click Files or Folders.
3. In the Named box, type Normal.dot.
4. In the Look In box, select your local hard disk drive (or an alternate user template location if you are running Word from a network server).
5. Click Find Now to search for the file.
6. For each occurrence of Normal.dot that appears in the Find dialog box, right-click the file. Click Rename on the shortcut menu. Give the file a new name, such as OldNormal.dot or Normal-1.dot.
7. Minimize the find dialog box.
8. Restart your automation client to start Word.

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/q247028/

mkbk · 12-17-2006, 04:44 PM

Hm...thanks but I changed all Normal.dot files to new names but the problem wasn't fixed.

Geekgirl · 12-17-2006, 04:49 PM

Open Microsoft Word, click Help, then click Detect and Repair. Have your software cd(s) handy

mkbk · 12-17-2006, 06:25 PM

Ah, that's the problem. The Help menu is crystal clear too.

Geekgirl · 12-17-2006, 06:30 PM

You may be able to place the installation cd in the drive and execute it as you were installing it, there may be a Repair option on there to choose

mkbk · 12-17-2006, 10:41 PM

Ah, tried that as well. Well thanks for the help but I don't know if this'll ever be fixed properly.

One question, if I were to 'Uninstall' (not Reinstall) then go through the installation process again, would it use up my CD (since it can be put on only up to 3 computers I'm wondering if it would recognize my computer and not be "used up")?

Geekgirl · 12-19-2006, 05:21 PM

They gave you license keys did they not? If so you can install again using the same key as used before.

12-17-2006, 10:52 AM	#1 (permalink)
mkbk Registered User Join Date: Dec 2006 Posts: 4 OS: Windows XP	Microsoft Office programs have gone haywire! My computer's gone wacky. Here are some screens: As you can see, the right click menus and other menus appear clear. This also happens with all of my other Microsoft Office programs. Clicking in the clear area does nothing. This is also the case with my start menu. Once I go into the programs menu, it's like that. I've reinstalled Microsoft Office, used the repairing option, ran my anti-virus softwares, deleted all harmful programs, restarted my computer, etc. I'm thinking it's a problem with my computer and not just the Microsoft programs since the situation occurs on the start menu and some other spots as well. Help please? I've got some work to do except the clear menus make it impossible.

12-17-2006, 12:54 PM	#2 (permalink)
Geekgirl Assistant Manager, Microsoft Support Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Six-burgh, Pennsylvania Posts: 14,192 OS: XP Home SP3/XP Pro SP3/Vista Ultimate SP2/Windows 7 Professional	Try renaming the Normal.dot file, follow these steps: 1. Quit all instances of Word, including WordMail. 2. On the Windows taskbar, click Start, point to Find, and click Files or Folders. 3. In the Named box, type Normal.dot. 4. In the Look In box, select your local hard disk drive (or an alternate user template location if you are running Word from a network server). 5. Click Find Now to search for the file. 6. For each occurrence of Normal.dot that appears in the Find dialog box, right-click the file. Click Rename on the shortcut menu. Give the file a new name, such as OldNormal.dot or Normal-1.dot. 7. Minimize the find dialog box. 8. Restart your automation client to start Word. http://support.microsoft.com/kb/q247028/ __________________ Compare NOD32 to your current antivirus and anti-spyware solution, HERE How to back up and restore the registry in Windows XP and Windows Vista Or Windows 7 How to back up and restore the registry in Windows 98/ ME / NT 4.0 / 2000 I DO NOT ACCEPT EMAILS AND WILL NOT REPLY TO THEM !!!!! TSF DOES NOT SUPPORT ASSISTANCE THROUGH EMAIL OR PRIVATE MESSAGES, PLEASE KEEP ALL QUESTIONS IN THE OPEN FORUM *The Pittsburgh Steelers - 6 X Superbowl Champions !!!!!!!* *The Pittsburgh Penguins - 2009 Stanley Cup Champions !!!!!!!*

12-17-2006, 04:49 PM	#4 (permalink)
Geekgirl Assistant Manager, Microsoft Support Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Six-burgh, Pennsylvania Posts: 14,192 OS: XP Home SP3/XP Pro SP3/Vista Ultimate SP2/Windows 7 Professional	Open Microsoft Word, click Help, then click Detect and Repair. Have your software cd(s) handy __________________ Compare NOD32 to your current antivirus and anti-spyware solution, HERE How to back up and restore the registry in Windows XP and Windows Vista Or Windows 7 How to back up and restore the registry in Windows 98/ ME / NT 4.0 / 2000 I DO NOT ACCEPT EMAILS AND WILL NOT REPLY TO THEM !!!!! TSF DOES NOT SUPPORT ASSISTANCE THROUGH EMAIL OR PRIVATE MESSAGES, PLEASE KEEP ALL QUESTIONS IN THE OPEN FORUM *The Pittsburgh Steelers - 6 X Superbowl Champions !!!!!!!* *The Pittsburgh Penguins - 2009 Stanley Cup Champions !!!!!!!*

12-17-2006, 06:30 PM	#6 (permalink)
Geekgirl Assistant Manager, Microsoft Support Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Six-burgh, Pennsylvania Posts: 14,192 OS: XP Home SP3/XP Pro SP3/Vista Ultimate SP2/Windows 7 Professional	You may be able to place the installation cd in the drive and execute it as you were installing it, there may be a Repair option on there to choose __________________ Compare NOD32 to your current antivirus and anti-spyware solution, HERE How to back up and restore the registry in Windows XP and Windows Vista Or Windows 7 How to back up and restore the registry in Windows 98/ ME / NT 4.0 / 2000 I DO NOT ACCEPT EMAILS AND WILL NOT REPLY TO THEM !!!!! TSF DOES NOT SUPPORT ASSISTANCE THROUGH EMAIL OR PRIVATE MESSAGES, PLEASE KEEP ALL QUESTIONS IN THE OPEN FORUM *The Pittsburgh Steelers - 6 X Superbowl Champions !!!!!!!* *The Pittsburgh Penguins - 2009 Stanley Cup Champions !!!!!!!*

12-19-2006, 05:21 PM	#8 (permalink)
Geekgirl Assistant Manager, Microsoft Support Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Six-burgh, Pennsylvania Posts: 14,192 OS: XP Home SP3/XP Pro SP3/Vista Ultimate SP2/Windows 7 Professional	They gave you license keys did they not? If so you can install again using the same key as used before. __________________ Compare NOD32 to your current antivirus and anti-spyware solution, HERE How to back up and restore the registry in Windows XP and Windows Vista Or Windows 7 How to back up and restore the registry in Windows 98/ ME / NT 4.0 / 2000 I DO NOT ACCEPT EMAILS AND WILL NOT REPLY TO THEM !!!!! TSF DOES NOT SUPPORT ASSISTANCE THROUGH EMAIL OR PRIVATE MESSAGES, PLEASE KEEP ALL QUESTIONS IN THE OPEN FORUM *The Pittsburgh Steelers - 6 X Superbowl Champions !!!!!!!* *The Pittsburgh Penguins - 2009 Stanley Cup Champions !!!!!!!*

12-17-2006, 04:44 PM	#3 (permalink)
mkbk Registered User Join Date: Dec 2006 Posts: 4 OS: Windows XP	Hm...thanks but I changed all Normal.dot files to new names but the problem wasn't fixed.

12-17-2006, 06:25 PM	#5 (permalink)
mkbk Registered User Join Date: Dec 2006 Posts: 4 OS: Windows XP	Ah, that's the problem. The Help menu is crystal clear too.

12-17-2006, 10:41 PM	#7 (permalink)
mkbk Registered User Join Date: Dec 2006 Posts: 4 OS: Windows XP	Ah, tried that as well. Well thanks for the help but I don't know if this'll ever be fixed properly. One question, if I were to 'Uninstall' (not Reinstall) then go through the installation process again, would it use up my CD (since it can be put on only up to 3 computers I'm wondering if it would recognize my computer and not be "used up")?