Recover From Microsoft Word Startup Error

Symptoms

You launch Microsoft word and receive the following errors:

• HRESULT: 0x8001010A
  VB Error: -2147417846
  "The message filter indicated that the application is busy"
  
  
• HRESULT: 0x800A175D
  VB Error: 5981
  "Cannot open macro storage"
  
  
• HRESULT: 0x800A142D
  VB Error: 5165
  "Word cannot open the existing [square]"

Possible Causes

The followings are the two common causes to the problem:

1. Normal.dot Corruption
   
   
2. Software Corruption

Resolution

1. Normal.dot Corruption
   
   The normal.dot file is a global template file. Microsoft Word locates this file each time it initialises.
   
   To resolve this issue, follow these steps:
   
   
   1. Click Start, point to Search, select Files Or Folders
      
      
   2. Type in: Normal.dot and hit Enter
      
      Where <folder> differs from various operating system, the typical file path is C:\<folder>\Application data\Microsoft\Templates. If you are using Windows XP, normal.dot is marked as a hidden system file and may not show. You are therefore required to enable to view hidden files.
      
      
   3. Once you locate the file, rename it to Normal.dot.old
      
      
   4. Restart Microsoft Word and the new Normal.dot template will be automatically created
   
   
2. Software Corruption
   
   This can occur when certain important structures of Microsoft Word is corrupted. The best way to repair software corruption is to perform a full reinstallation.