Linda, try uninstalling and reinstalling Word if you cannot afford to buy Office 2003. Sometimes upgrading to a later version is the only way you can get to some of the bug fixes. Also, in case you have any anti-virus software running, try turning it all off and starting Word without it. There are some which have known issues when starting various applications (Word was one of them). Hth, -- To post a message to the list, send it to jfw@xxxxxxxxxxxxx To unsubscribe from this mailing list, send a message to jfw-request@xxxxxxxxxxxxx with the word unsubscribe in the subject line. Archives located at: //www.freelists.org/archives/jfw If you have any concerns about the list, post received from the list, or the way the list is being run, do not post them to the list. Rather contact the list owner at jfw-admins@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx