I have MS Word 2002 installed in my computer. For some reason, the Legal Pleadings Wizard (found in General Templates - Legal Pleadings) does not work. It worked the first time I installed it from the Word CD, but since then, when I double-click on the Wizard, only an ordinary blank document appears.

How can I fix this? I tried downloading the pleading paper template from Microsoft's website, but that didn't help. Would uninstalling and reinstalling Word do the trick? I'm afraid to try this unless I'm certain I can reinstall it. Is there a limit as to how many times you can do that?

Thank you for any help you can offer.

Hi MsSueM, there is a Pleading Wizard Reset (285k download) available HERE including installation instructions, although it doesn`t nention your specific problem maybe it might sort it,also if you don`t have them already here are the links to Word 2002 Support Centre and Microsoft Word Newsgroups .

This message has been edited. Last edited by: DorianGreyed,

Hi, redder,

I followed the Reset instructions exactly. Upon trying the new Pleading Wizard, I was instructed to insert the Word CD to load the template. I did, but still, when I double-click the Pleading Wizard only a blank document screen appears.

My next step will be to ask for assistance at the Word newsgroup. Thank you for the links and for attempting to help me.

If I'm unable to find an answer, what about my idea of uninstalling/reinstalling? Do you think that would help? Is there a limit as to how many times you can reinstall?

Thank you.

Hi again
as far as I am aware there is no limit to the ammount of times you can uninstall then reinstall an application (appart from sitting at your monitor clicking away until either you or the computer dies )
The first of the following suggestions has some relevance, they are part of a much larger thread I found entitled "Cannot get Legal Pleading Wizard to work -- PERIOD!"
View complete thread
"Understand that re-installing Word will NOT replace existing templates,whether they are damaged or not.
Having run the Office remover, you must then hunt down any .dot files on your hard disk and move to somewhereWord can't see them (say, drop them down to a folder in your personal network directory that is named something like "Old Stuff" so Word can'tmistakenly find it. Then reboot. Then re-install Office.
Then re-apply the Service Releases."

"Before trying again, test your printer: the Pleading Wizard cannot work unless your printer works correctly."

"Are you using Norton? If you are then chances are the Office Plug-in option in Norton is causing you the problem.
Disable the option and see if the Pleading Wizard will work."

"Try this, go to Start/Run and start Word using this command:
winword /a
Note that there is a space before the forward slash.
This will start Word without loading your Normal.dot, the add-ins and some Registry information. Then try running the Pleading Wizard. If it works the problem would be one of the following:
Corrupt Normal.dot.Locate Normal.dot and rename it to OldNormal.dot.
Word will create a new one upon starting.
If this resolves the problem, any customizations can be copied to the new Normal.dot via the Organizer
(Tools/Templates and Add-Ins) Once this is complete OldNormal.dot can be discarded. If the problem still exists then you can delete the new Normal.dot and rename you OldNormal.dot to Normal.dot.

Registry Corruption: See this article for instructions on rebuilding the Word/Data key:
http://www.mvps.org/word/FAQs/AppErrors/MissingMenusEtc.htm

Global template/add-in: Go to Tools/Options/File Locations and note the location of the Startup folder.Exit Word and locate the Startup folder and see if any files are placed in the folder. If more than one, move them one at a time and try starting Word after each file is moved out of the folde until you determine which one is causing the problem."

In case you need it here is another Help Forum


[This message was edited by redder on 11-10-03 at 10:03 PM.]

This message has been edited. Last edited by: DorianGreyed,

redder,

Thank you so much for the additional info!
I will work on this over the weekend and let you know what happens!

redder,

Thank you! I'm able to use the Pleading Wizard now, in a roundabout way. I read the entire thread you linked. Some of the suggestions didn't apply to my situation; I tried certain other things to no avail until I got to the "winword /a" part.

The Pleading Wizard works perfectly when I start Word with the "winword /a" command. I can save and print the documents as usual, and the personalized legal pleadings templates I've created are stored in the General Templates file and open correctly when I start Word the regular way.

I followed the instructions to rename the Normal file, but that didn't have any effect. I'm not sure what the problem is, but as long as I can start the Wizard with that command, I'm satisfied.

I never would have known about this fix if you hadn't tracked down the answer for me. It helps enormously in my work to have access to the Pleading Wizard on my home computer. Thank you so much for your assistance!