Second Instance of Word 6.0 May Write Over Word 2.0 NORMAL.DOT
PSS ID Number: Q107081
Article last modified on 11-30-1993
PSS database name: WM_Word

6.00

WINDOWS


-------------------------------------------------------------------
The information in this article applies to:

 - Microsoft Word for Windows, version 6.0
 - Microsoft Windows operating system version 3.1
-------------------------------------------------------------------

SYMPTOMS
==========

If you have both Word 2.x and Word 6.0 for Windows installed on your
machine, Word 6.0 may overwrite the Word 2.x NORMAL.DOT file, making
it unusable in Word 2.x.

CAUSE
======

If Word 6.0 for Windows is installed in a separate directory on a
machine that also has Word 2.x for Windows installed, Word 6.0 can
overwrite the Word 2.x NORMAL.DOT file with Word 6.0 format under
the following specific circumstances:

1. Word 6.0 is running but has no NORMAL.DOT file. (NORMAL.DOT was
   either deleted or not yet created. The first time you start Word,
   there is no NORMAL.DOT file; the file is created when Word 6.0 is
   closed the first time.)

2. While Word 6.0 is running with no NORMAL.DOT, double-click the icon
   for Word 2.x.

3. Since "WINWORD.EXE" is the name of the executable file for both
   programs and the Word 6.0 executable is already in memory, a second
   instance of Word 6.0 is started.

4. The second instance of Word 6.0 will look for a NORMAL.DOT template
   in the current working directory, which is the Word 2.x program
   directory. As a result, the second instance of Word 6.0 will load
   the NORMAL.DOT file from the Word 2.x directory.

5. When you exit the second instance of Word 6.0, the following
   message will be displayed:

      The file NORMAL.DOT is a Word version 2.x for Windows document.
      Do you want to overwrite it with Word version 6.0 for Windows
      format?

   If you answer "Yes," Word 2.x will not be able to use the
   NORMAL.DOT file in Word 2.x.

Additional reference words: 6.00 w4wtemplate

Copyright Microsoft Corporation 1993.