Launching Word with the switch of /a will disable all add-ins and global templates. This switch comes in handy if Word is crashing when you try to launch it or behaving abnormally because of an add-in or template. You can launch Word in this fashion in a couple of ways. I am using Word 2003 in this example, but this method will work with Word 2007 as well.

1. Press the Windows Key + R to bring up the Run dialog and type winword /a in the box and click OK.

2. Create a shortcut that points to the location of the Word application.

• Right-click the desktop and select New > Shortcut.
• Click Browse and select the location where Microsoft Word is installed. On my computer it was “C:\Program Files\Microsoft Office\OFFICE11\winword.exe”.
• Click OK once you have selected where the winword.exe file is.
• The path should now be in the field for Type the location of the item:.
• At the end of this line, put a space and then type /a.
• Click Next and type in a name for the shortcut. Click Finish when you are done.

Now you should have a nice Word icon that you can use that will prevent any add-ins or global templates from loading.