Resetting Word default with /a command line switch

Question

I've read online that if you right click on the Word shortcut, go to Properties and the Shortcut tab, you can place a /a at the end of the file path in the Target field. This is suppose to reset Word to its default settings after it is closed and reopened (for use computers in a computer lab).

My problem is, the Target field isn't displaying a file path but instead the version of Office I'm using - and it's grayed out anyway. I don't want to deal with the registry since I'm not that computer savvy.

Answer 1

The shortcut that you tried to edit is a so-called installer shortcut; you can't edit its target.

You can do the following instead:

• Start Windows Explorer.
• Navigate to the folder where Office is installed, usually C:\Program Files\Microsoft Office\Office10.
• Locate WINWORD.EXE.
• Right-click this file and select Send To > Desktop (Create Shortcut)
• There will now be a standard shortcut on the desktop.
• Right-click the shortcut.
• Select Properties from the popup menu.
• Add a space and /a after the target.
• Click OK.

Answer 2

Thanks so much! I was actually able to figure that out last night after putting together some information I found on this site and other sites. But you confirmed what I hoped I had figured out. Thanks so much for confirming!!