Show Hidden Files and Folders

You don't have to search for the templates because Word itself will tell you where they are.

In Word 97
Select Tools menu and then select Options
Select File Locations tab
Look for location for User templates



For example, here is the template location in File Explorer

Note Normal.dot is default Word template and MyTemplate.dot is a template I created and saved.



Finding Where Templates Are Stored
Finding Where Templates Are Stored (Microsoft Word)

F22 Simpilot said:

Yes, Windows search is bunk. Check my signature...

- for people who don't know how to use it. Therein lies the problem- it's actually somewhat technical and hence easy to dismiss because it's not something casual users can use easily, and requires appropriate configuration.

Plus MS messed it up after 1903- but Winaero's tweaker lets you restore that in 1 click. Another thing you've got to know, alas, and without which you will dismiss it as badly implemented.

I can start from 'This PC' and find anything I want by content or name. That's because I have indexing set up appropriately, and I know a little about search syntax (which file explorer ribbone supports to a degree).

I agree with @F22 Simpilot
Once you know how to use Everything you will never use Windows search again.
Everything

dw85745 said:

MisterEd. That's were I got the path from, but no files per explorer.

The template Normal.dot had to have been in that folder. That file is created when Office is installed. When Word is run it reads that as the default template. In fact if you were delete that file Word will automatically recreate it when it is run again. The only other files in that folders are new templates that you created and saved.

Note I have both Office 97 and Office 2003 on Windows XP computers. I am showing things with Office 2003 instead of Office 97 because I am having problems right now with the Office 97 install. It should make no difference because they both have the same file locations.

The folder containing the templates is in a hidden folder. That means normally it can't be seen.



You can't see this folder until you set the option to Show hidden files and folders.



Once that is done the hidden folder Application Data can be seen.



Then all you have to do is open the Application Data folder and drill down to the Templates folder.

dw85745 said:

MisterEd. That's were I got the path from, but no files per explorer.

dalchina: I'm been using Explorer since Windows 3.0, but this is first time I've had problems. I have not reindex for some time though.

mngerhold: Re: Agent Ransack, just looked it up. 58 MB. You got to be kidding me.

F22 Simpilot and Megahertz: Just tried Everything just looking for *.exe in c:\ using Advanced Search.. Got 0 objects. Did NOT install, ran from zip and elected NOT to let Administrator index. SO either I'm doing something wrong or indexing is required.






parent:c:\ *.exe

I used C: *.exe and it found 4045 files. My version is to install and indexed.

MisterEd said:

The template Normal.dot had to have been in that folder. That file is created when Office is installed. When Word is run it reads that as the default template. In fact if you were delete that file Word will automatically recreate it when it is run again. The only other files in that folders are new templates that you created and saved.

I have Office 2010 on Win 7 and Office 2019 on Win 10 and Normal.dot and now is Normal.dotm and Normal.dotx and it is on C:\Users\Luiz\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Templates