Computer and Software Support


Put office in safe mode

Microsoft Office Safe Mode allows you to safely use an Office or Office family program that has encountered certain startup problems. When a problem is detected at startup, Office either fixes the problem or isolates it, allowing the program to start successfully.

If Outlook keeps having problems, there may be an add-in (a program that is not part of Outlook but installed in Outlook) that is causing the issue. Putting it in safe mode disables all add-ins. If it works in safe mode, then chances are it is an add-in and you will know where to troubleshoot.

Automated safe mode

During startup, Office checks for problems such as an add-in or extension that won't start, or a corrupted resource, file, registry, or template. A message is displayed the next time the program is started, identifying the problem and asking if you want to disable the part of the program that has a problem.

A list of disabled items is accessible through the Disabled Items dialog box (About Microsoft <program>, Help menu). You can use this dialog box to enable the listed items. Enabling some items may require you to reload or reinstall an add-in program or reopen a file. Enabling an item does not necessarily fix the root problem; an item that you enable may be placed back on the disabled list the next time you start the program.

User-initiated safe mode

You can open any Office or Office family program in Office Safe Mode by pressing CTRL while you start the program or by using the /safe option when you start the program from the command line.

The following restrictions apply when you open a program in user-initiated Office Safe Mode. (Some items listed below do not apply to all Office or Office family programs.)

 

Add switches to the Run command

  1. Click Start

  2. Click Run

  3. Enter the path to Word, such as C:\Program Files\Microsoft Office\Office\Winword.exe, or click Browse to locate it.

  4. At the end of the path, type a space, and then type a startup switch.

 

Create a desktop shortcut

  1. Right click on the Desktop

  2. Click on New

  3. Click on Shortcut

  4. In the Type the location of the item box, enter the path to Word, such as C:\Program Files\Microsoft Office\Office\Winword.exe, or click Browse to locate it.

  5. At the end of the path, type a space, and then type a startup switch.

 

Startup Switches

/safe

Start Word in Office Safe Mode.

/ttemplatename

Start Word with a new document based on a template other than the Normal template (Normal template: A global template that you can use for any type of document. You can modify this template to change the default document formatting or content.). Example: /tMyfax.dot

Note  If the file name has spaces in it, enclose the complete name in quotation marks — for example, /t"Elegant Report.dot"

Security  Because templates can store macro viruses, be careful about opening them or creating files based on new templates. Take the following precautions: run up-to-date antivirus software on your computer, set your macro security level to high, clear the Trust all installed add-ins and templates check box, use digital signatures, and maintain a list of trusted sources.

/pxslt

Start Word with a new XML document based on the specified Extensible Stylesheet Language Transformation (XSLT) (XSL Transformation (XSLT): A file that is used to transform XML documents into other types of documents, such as HTML or XML. It is designed for use as part of XSL.). Example: /p:c:\MyTransform.xsl

/a

Start Word and prevent add-ins (add-in: A supplemental program that adds custom commands or custom features to Microsoft Office.) and global templates (including the Normal template) from being loaded automatically. The /a switch also locks the setting files.

/laddinpath

Start Word and then load a specific Word add-in. Example: /lSales.dll

Security  Use caution when running executable files or code in macros or applications. Executable files or code can be used to carry out actions that might compromise the security of your computer and data.

/m

Start Word without running any AutoExec macros (macro: An action or a set of actions that you can use to automate tasks. Macros are recorded in the Visual Basic for Applications programming language.).

/mmacroname

Start Word and then run a specific macro. The /m switch also prevents Word from running any AutoExec macros. Example: /mSalelead

Security  Because macros can contain viruses, be careful about running them. Take the following precautions: run up-to-date antivirus software on your computer; set your macro security level to high; clear the Trust all installed add-ins and templates check box; use digital signatures; maintain a list of trusted publishers.

/n

Start a new instance of Word with no document open. Documents opened in each instance of Word will not appear as choices in the Window menu of other instances.

/w

Start a new instance of Word with a blank document. Documents opened in each instance of Word will not appear as choices in the Window menu of the other instances.

Note  To suppress automatic macros without using switches, hold down SHIFT while you start Word.

Below is what you will type for various office programs

  • outlook.exe /safe (there is a space between exe and the /) Plus any startup switches listed above (optional)

  • winword.exe /safe (there is a space between exe and the /) Plus any startup switches listed above (optional)

  • excel.exe /safe (there is a space between exe and the /) Plus any startup switches listed above (optional)

  • msaccess.exe /safe (there is a space between exe and the /) Plus any startup switches listed above (optional)

  • infopath.exe /safe (there is a space between exe and the /) Plus any startup switches listed above (optional)

  • onenote.exe /safe (there is a space between exe and the /) Plus any startup switches listed above (optional)

  • powerpnt.exe /safe (there is a space between exe and the /) Plus any startup switches listed above (optional)