Error: The last time you opened BasicSimple.dotx, it caused a serious error

Anonymous
2023-01-28T14:48:37+00:00

When I am typing in Word, I will hover the mouse over the toolbar and spin the wheel and as it goes back to the right toolbar (Home for example from view) I get this error: Error: "The last time you opened BasicSimple.dotx, it caused a serious error. Do you still want to open it?"

I do not understand why it keep popping up only when i spin the scroll wheel when i am trying to switch between toolbar menus. Any advice?

Moderator's note: BasicSimple.dotx is a built-in [Quick] Style Set.

[Quick] Style Sets and Word Themes in Microsoft Word

[Quick] Style Sets

Microsoft 365 and Office | Word | For business | Windows

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Anonymous
2023-07-24T15:55:25+00:00

Can you please give me a step by step description of what you did. I am the one who created this thread and so far nothing I have tried or seen here has worked. I still get the same error.

Hi sidscrat,

Your Normal.dotm file should be at this locaition: C:\UserName\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Templates.

Rename Normal.dotm to Normal.dotm_old or something similar. After that, restart the computer.

That process seemed to fix the issue for some of us.

James

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  1. Anonymous
    2023-07-24T16:48:35+00:00

    For me normal.dotm was not the cause of the problem. Here is a bit more background:

    Not sure if needed in this context, but I always use a file manager configured to show system and hidden files.

    Windows 10 machine, fully updated

    Microsoft® Word for Microsoft 365 MSO (Version 2306 Build 16.0.16529.20164) 64-bit

    1. Close Word and any app that may be using Word (e.g. Outlook).
    2. Find the QuickStyles folder. On my machine it is here:

    C:\Program Files\Microsoft Office\root\Office16\1033\QuickStyles

    1. Locate basicsimple.dotx in the folder
    2. Move the template to another folder (or delete if you feel bold)

    Hope this helps

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  2. Charles Kenyon 171.1K Reputation points Volunteer Moderator
    2023-07-24T18:20:16+00:00

    For me normal.dot was not the cause of the problem. Here is a bit more background:

    Not sure if needed in this context, but I always use a file manager configured to show system and hidden files.

    Windows 10 machine, fully updated

    Microsoft® Word for Microsoft 365 MSO (Version 2306 Build 16.0.16529.20164) 64-bit

    1. Close Word and any app that may be using Word (e.g. Outlook).
    2. Find the QuickStyles folder. On my machine it is here:

    C:\Program Files\Microsoft Office\root\Office16\1033\QuickStyles

    1. Locate basicsimple.dotx in the folder
    2. Move the template to another folder (or delete if you feel bold)

    Hope this helps

    The location for Custom [Quick] Style Sets is:

    C:\Users*username*\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\QuickStyles

    Look there first.

    For versions of Word earlier that 2016, the location for the installed ones will be in a different folder than used by ITMgr101.

    Off-topic Jargon alert:

    It is Normal.dotm, not Normal.dot nor Normal.dotx.

    Normal.dot was for pre-Word 2007 systems. Those systems would not be using [Quick] Style Sets.

    Normal.dotx has never been a part of a Word installation. The normal template is always macro-enabled.

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  3. Anonymous
    2023-07-24T19:29:18+00:00

    Thanks for correcting my typo on the spelling of normal.dotm

    On my system the QuickStyles folder is where I indicated, subfolders of C:\Program Files\etc. There is a QuickStyles folder in the AppData\etc... folder also but it is empty (and I have not customized any default folder locations). Could be version dependent.

    Point being, the OP may have to search for it.

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  4. Anonymous
    2023-07-25T10:54:17+00:00

    FINALLY! I started this thread many months ago and up until now nothing worked. Your answer seems to have done the job! Thank you!

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